Many car owners use the front or rear lights to create emergency lights in different blinking patterns. This helps to alert the other car drivers on the road when there is a problem. Usually, the hazard lights operate on the same circuit like the regular vehicle lights. But they have a separate control switch. Knowing the right to use them can benefit you during an emergency. Nevertheless, car drivers should also have highway flares equipped in their cars.
What Are Hazard Lights?
The hazard lights are intermittent headlight bulb which flashes in unison to warn the other drivers on the roads. These lights usually indicate that the vehicle flashing the emergency light creates only a temporary obstruction. It also goes by the name of hazard flashers.
Different countries use these accessories for car exteriors in several ways. Usually, people won’t be using it when slowing down their vehicle. However, the traffic rules of many places use it to warn other drivers when slowing down suddenly.
Typically, you can turn it on by pushing a red triangle-shaped button on the dashboard. Under hard braking or following an accident, certain cars’ danger warning lights will turn on automatically.
Consider Using Your Car’s Hazard Lights When:
- Getting Pulled Over: If a police officer motion you to pull over, you may respond to their request by turning on your hazard lights. As you approach a safe area, slow down, activate your hazard lights, and pull over.
- Changing A Tyre on The Side of The Road: When your car becomes a possible threat to other drivers on the road, turn on your hazard lights. In most cases, it’s OK to keep your hazards on when you stop on the street to change a tyre.
- Your Car Has Broken Down, and You’re Waiting for A Tow: You’re waiting for help since your automobile has turned into a temporary danger. If you cannot manoeuvre your vehicle out of traffic, alert other motorists of your presence.
- Driving In a Funeral Procession: Most hazard light recommendations do not apply during funeral processions. Even though doing so is against the law, it’s usual for cars to drive with their hazard lights on.
- Car Accident: The hazard lights are helpful in dangerous and other emergencies, as their name indicates. You can switch on the hazard lights if you’re in an accident or something is wrong with your car. You may let oncoming traffic know if you’re in an accident or need assistance by flashing your hazard lights.
Avoid Using Your Car’s Hazard Lights When:
- Driving In Bad Weather: Other drivers might be unable to identify which lane you’re in or if you’re changing lanes and the emergency lights are on. Moreover, it isn’t easy to see the road when it is raining or snowing. In bad weather, turn on your headlights and taillights. You need to turn on the emergency lights if the weather is poor. Then you must pull over and wait for the situation to become better.
- Driving In Heavy Traffic: While your hazards may increase your visibility, they may also make it difficult for other drivers to predict your actions. In certain vehicles, turning signals remain blocked while hazards are working.
- Parking Illegally: Parking your vehicle illegally is never a good practice. Turning on the hazard lights won’t make it legal if you are doing so. So, you must continue to drive until you find a safe parking spot without blocking the traffic.
- A Turn Signal Will Do the Job: When you want to exit the highways for any unexpected emergency, never turn on these lights suddenly. When the hazard light is on, the turn signal won’t function. This makes it confusing for the other drivers to know about actions and often results in a crash.
How to Fix a Faulty Hazard Light?
First, you must check the hazard light’s switch to see if it got stuck or not. When they get stuck, these lights continue to stay on. In case the switch is fine, then there must be a fault in the switch’s wiring. They can burn or fuse together, making it difficult for you to turn off the light. So, the best course of action would be to remove its fuse and the switch and replace them. Put them both in their original position, and it should work fine. You can also reach out to a professional who can help to solve this issue for you better.
Basically, there could be two possible reasons why your hazard lights aren’t working:
- When the fuse blows off suddenly, which is usually the case in older cars, none of the lights will work. You will find the fuse box in the trunk of older cars. So, you must replace them as soon as you can.
- Secondly, the hazard lights won’t function properly if the relay switch is faulty. The relay switch gets power from the fuses and routes it to the car’s rear and front. A defective relay switch will make a clicking sound when you turn it off. However, it won’t turn off completely. So, you must replace them to make them function properly.
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