I'm sure this has been discussed but couldn't fond a thread.

Driving South on 75 from Allen to Dallas this evening in the rain, somewhere between 40-50% of the idiots on the road had their hazards on.

What do they think this is accomplishing?

I don't like it much but it's a thing.

It's to alert those around them that there's an idiot operating a vehicle

I honk at them

Not sure when this became a thing, but it shouldn't have.

GAC06 said:

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It's to alert those around them that there's an idiot operating a vehicle

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So what about if they're also wearing a mask while driving in the rain alone...?

It's a cultural thing. More common with Nissan, Mitsubishi, and older Kia/Hyundai drivers. Very common in the larger regional cities across the south (Birmingham, Shreveport, Jackson, Memphis). It's helpful for identifying who can't drive.

Last week I was driving west on I-10 and when I crossed the Pecos River I could see a black cloud heading our way and moving fast. Within a couple of miles it was virtually dark (10AM) raining so hard I could barely see and probably 40-50 MPH wind. We were going 20-25 MPH for the next 25 miles or so. Nearly everyone including trucks had their flashers on. Is that okay? I didn't turn mine on but most did.

Hazard lights indicate a stopped vehicle. Or should.

Maybe it's to get the real idiots, those looking at their phones while driving, to pay attention?

Usually see them with truckers indicating a sudden slow down due to rain. I view it as more of a common courtesy play in my book which is severely lacking these days.

GAC06 said:

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It's to alert those around them that there's an idiot operating a vehicle

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POTD

My wife and I argued about this last night after she told me that she used her hazards while driving in a heavy rain yesterday. I think all those flashing lights everywhere is a bit crazy-making and is meant to indicate distress. However, I did like her point about it making her more visible because she drives a white car, which is harder to see in a lot of rain and road 'misting'.

It's so dumb. I ultimately don't care if you have your hazards on in the rain. But if you are anywhere but the right most lane with your hazards on in motion you should be executed on the side of the road.

Drives me nuts! Especially if they turn on hazards and slow down but stay in the left lane!

They probably cannot help the fact they are idiots and bad drivers, but do it in the freaking right lane!

What, exactly, are they trying to warn other drivers about? Am I incorrect that hazards are meant to warn of a HAZARD with the vehicle. Like it is stopped on the side of the road, in distress, etc.

Are they trying to warn me that it is raining, wet, what??


They should not be driving.

Absolute said:

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What, exactly, are they trying to warn other drivers about? Am I incorrect that hazards are meant to warn of a HAZARD with the vehicle. Like it is stopped on the side of the road, in distress, etc.

Are they trying to warn me that it is raining, wet, what??


They should not be driving.

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This.

Hazard lights are for communicating a specific thing. Rain isn't it.

Honestly, it's like if people all of a sudden decided to use their turn signals to let people know that the sun is setting either to the left or to the right.

I asked this same this today. In prosper. It's out of control. Ppl think they can drive 7 mph with hazards on because they're scared. Pull over if you'd like to take a break.

I'm a RainX guy myself. So when the hazards come on, that's my cue to pass them on the left and double or triple their speed so I can get the **** away from them.

It kinda of blows my mind how many people havnt treated their windshields with any number of quality products on the market today. It's like driving with Saran Wrap on your windows. WTF.

You can literally see clearly without your wipers on at all, in fact, I drove without a functional wiper motor for 2 years when I was 16 using rain x only. Pretty sure functional adults can do the same…well maybe..society isn't getting smarter.

"In Formula 1, blinking lights during light rain serve as crucial warning and visibility systems designed to prevent high-speed collisions in low-visibility conditions."

So is it dumb in F1, too?

I'd tend to agree that in a normal rainstorm, where visibility isn't too bad, it is kind of silly. But in a heavy downpour I do think they can increase visibility.

I'd rather focus on idiots that don't have any lights on, if I had to focus on something.

robertcope said:

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"In Formula 1, blinking lights during light rain serve as crucial warning and visibility systems designed to prevent high-speed collisions in low-visibility conditions."

So is it dumb in F1, too?

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They chase each other at 200mph with open wheels and without windshield wipers (or windshields for that matter). Slightly different.

I feel like when my wipers are on full blast, heavy storm, the bright red flashing lights all around make it harder, not easier to focus on what is in front of me.

Definitely a new thing. It should be illegal.

If it's raining, turn on your lights, then use your turn signals for lane changes. If it's raining so hard you feel the need to pull over and stop, use your hazards. Not hard.

If there is a blizzard, a heavy fog, or a torrential downpour that really limits visibility so that drivers must slow to well below the speed limit, then it is acceptable to me. I've been in a fog so dense that I could only see about 3-4 car lengths and in that circumstance it makes sense and helps.

When it is merely raining and you can still see well and drive at or near the speed limit safely, it becomes very distracting and it is dangerous because when you are beside someone, you can't tell if it is hazards or they are trying to turn or change lanes.

It is intended for disabled vehicles ot vehicles that are a road hazard, not because you want to virtue signsl how super cautious of a driver you are.

robertcope said:

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"In Formula 1, blinking lights during light rain serve as crucial warning and visibility systems designed to prevent high-speed collisions in low-visibility conditions."

So is it dumb in F1, too?

I'd tend to agree that in a normal rainstorm, where visibility isn't too bad, it is kind of silly. But in a heavy downpour I do think they can increase visibility.

I'd rather focus on idiots that don't have any lights on, if I had to focus on something.

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We found one, folks!

Sometimes if traffic is all the sudden coming to a halt on a freeway and I see a lot of daylight between me and the traffic behind me, I will put them on for a few seconds to try and get the attention of those who may not be aware of the traffic building up.