News We Can Use: Driving with Hazard Lights
[Headlines from DRJ]
As Tropical Storm Barry moves ashore on the Gulf Coast, the extra rain can make it hard to drive and some drivers turn on their hazard lights. The Louisiana State Police warn that, in Louisiana, driving with flashing lights in a storm is illegal and unsafe:
When the rain starts to pour, there always seems to be people on the road who drive with their flashers on. Louisiana State Police issued a tweet Sunday amid Tropical Storm Barry rainfall that not only is driving with flashing lights irritating for some drivers, but it’s also illegal.
“Hazard lights should only be used if a vehicle is disabled in the roadway or on the shoulder,” Louisiana State Police said. “There is no need to use your flashers while driving in the rain.”
In a follow-up tweet, the agency explained exactly why this could be an unsafe problem for other drivers on the road.
AAA’s Digest of Motor Laws surveys the traffic laws in the US and Canada on the legality of using hazard lights while driving. The rules vary among the States.
— DRJ
Snort! Some LSP desk-jockey felt a special need to justify his existence, or did he just finish eating the last donut and didn’t have anything else to fill the time? “I know when I need to warn other motorists that I’m not driving normally, for whatever reason, buddy. And brush that powdered sugar off your shirt front!”
nk (dbc370) — 7/15/2019 @ 7:19 amBarry was a bust so this does seem a little like trying to be relevant … but it surprised me how these laws vary from state to state.
DRJ (15874d) — 7/15/2019 @ 7:25 amA normal use of hazard lights is using them to signal that the car in question is not driving normally and other drivers need to watch out. They also make it more visible to other cars, and unlike headlights, can be seen by cars driving behind the car in question.
kishnevi (0c10d1) — 7/15/2019 @ 7:44 amThe AAA Digest says Florida’s law is the same as Louisiana. In which case a lot of Florida drivers routinely break the law.