On occasion I see people driving down the freeway at normal speeds with their flashers/hazards on. I don't understand what they're trying to communicate to me when they do that...
Anyone done it/know why someone might? It's pretty annoying - espeically when I think it's a blinker indicating they want into my lane and I hang back to let them in...
I was doing my best impression of me asking a question on my best behavior.
Yes, I know what the purpose of the hazard lights are. In the situations I'm referring to, the vehicle is driving in the far left or second-to left lane with the flow of traffic - maybe even passing people, braking appropriately, etc. Just don't get it!
As far as driving with them on in the rain, hopefully if you need them in inclement weather, your headlights/taillights are already on so others can see you. Other than that, seriously... we're ALL driving in the same weather! You don't have a private rain store over your one car!
As far as the blinker situation - in this case, the driver had a back blinker out, so I though his blinker was on - I held back to allow him over (no bumper-to-bumper traffic to make worse here) and when he didn't make any move or indication he was coming over, I moved forward only to realize it wasn't his blinker, it was his hazards on.
I saw something even stranger yesterday driving to work in rush hour complete bumper-to-bumper traffic - help on this would also be good...
Guy driving has his arm out his driver's side windowwith his INDEX finger pointing straight up - and he left it like that for as long as I could see him (which was at least 10-15 minutes)! And he had some long fingers! Was he keeping sight line for another driver he was caravanning with? Was he reminding all the drivers to keep their minds on the Lord? What?Ha!
I used them the one time I had to drive a friend to the emergency room...she had cut her finger off...like no longer on her hand...
I tried to drive quickly though not much over the speed limit as I did want us to arrive safely.
Maybe having some type of car trouble.
Maybe lost?
Maybe they had them on for another reason earlier and forgot to turn them off?
Hazard lights take an effort to hit so what ever their reason it's safe to assume they have a problem and the best thing to do is to move away safely. I usually change lanes to the left (faster lane just in case they suddenly need to pull off) and go my way. But hazard lights are meant to tell other drivers something so stop and look around to see if there is a problem. If the driver is slowing, you may want to slow as well and not speed around them since they may be telling you there's something on the road. But you said they drive normal speed and do it. I know it can be annoying when you realize nothing's wrong but better safe than sorry so do a quick assessment of safety.
As for signals, I have even left my blinker on before. You know, those moments you have. Doesn't happen often but considering if each person does it once a year and with all the drivers on the road, another driver may experience it a few times a week.
People do it in Florida when it's raining . . . <<eyes rolling>>
This JUST happened to me.
I was even speeding a bit. (With my hazards on)
Why?
My breaks weren't working.
As in they went OUT. I was standing on the floor, pumping them for more torque, and get zip. Nada. Zilch. I still had to drive, though, and with no freaking place to pull over... I had to keep driving for several miles, until FINALLY there was a place I could MAYBE slow down into... and I ebraked it as carefully as I could.
After my breaks had cooled and started working again in a few hours, I drove with my hazards on the rest of the way, because I was VERY nervous about them going out again, and I wanted people to stay clear.
It's suppose to indicate that there is some type problem and you should try to stay clear of that vehicle.
I have a friend who is an attorney who once said they do that for a liability issue. They would always do it going over train track, and bad weather. I would always reply isn't getting hit in the rear always the other driver's fault. Yes, but apparently this clears up any ambiguity so far as fair warning they would stop.
I don't know, he was a paranoid kind of guy.
I have seen it used in the terms he spoke of but no where else. The only thing I can think of is they put them on for a funeral and forgot to turn them off. That I have seen a lot!
I'm cracking up at Jo W.'s post.
A paranoid attorney. LOL Dangerous combination.
Any of the answers you have been given could be the reason. Just had to comment on the paranoid attorney. Still Laughing.
I saw a car going down the road just today with flashers on. They were going the normal speed limit and nothing was on fire or anything. When I drove past them I looked over and both the driver and passenger had their faces buried in their cell phones texting. Grrrr! In this case, the flashers indicated idiot driver and passenger. Other than that, I have no clue!
Maybe they are on by accident?
I put mine on in bad weather, any time I am traveling 15 mph or more under the speed-limit (for whatever reason), if I am having some kind of car trouble and need people to keep their distance, or if I see something up ahead that is going to require slamming on the breaks (as a way to notify those behind me). In general, I think you should keep your distance from any car that has them on, because they probably have a reason and it probably means you need to take care.
Only times I've ever driven with the hazards on were during bad weather, icy roads, and for a funeral. I bet they just forgot they had them on. It's one of my bigger pet peeves when someone is driving along with their blinker on with no intention to turn or change lanes! So annoying! Also, what is with the people who can't seem to use the correct blinker, and are always using left to turn right and vice versa? I've seen that happen often, and it is really annoying, not to mention dangerous!
Personally, I think most of them do it to annoy the heck out of the rest of us. Although, we once had a car that would die out for no reason. I would sometimes drive on the right side of the expressway with the lights flashing if I thought it possibly might decide to cutoff on me. They never did figure out what caused it. I was more than happy when we got rid of it.
When I took drivers' ed, the instructor kept asking us "what do you know when the driver has the flasher on?" Everyone kept saying merging left or right or whatever. He gave us all an F. He told us the only thing you know is that the flasher is on.
