When should you turn on your hazard lights?

Turning on your hazard lights is appropriate when your vehicle is stopped in a dangerous location, serving to alert other drivers to the potential hazard. This signals that there is an unexpected obstacle on the road, which could pose a risk to safety. Hazard lights provide visual warnings, helping to ensure that others can take caution or maneuver around your vehicle, thereby minimizing the chance of an accident.

In scenarios like driving above the speed limit, the use of hazard lights would not convey a necessary warning and could potentially confuse other drivers. Approaching a police vehicle typically doesn’t require hazard lights unless you are pulling over in a potentially hazardous situation. Seeing a pedestrian crossing also doesn’t necessitate hazard lights, as standard signals such as brake lights or turning signals would be more appropriate to communicate your intention to slow down or stop. Thus, using hazard lights only in truly dangerous situations ensures they maintain their significance as a warning signal.