Using Hazard Lights

[GrahamA]

Hazard lights are great to have IMHO. They can be used to say, 'I am posing a hazard to you.' and 'You are posing a hazard to me.' They can also be saying to oncoming drivers, 'There is a hazard behind me which you are approaching.' That's what vehicles coming towards you are doing when they have flashing lights and often a sign telling of a hazard which they are leading.

From my observations few drivers and riders use their hazard lights when it would be better if they did. My advice is to avoid bikes which don't have them and to learn how to use them readily when you do have them.

Often I'll use the hazard lights when a vehicle is following me too closely and it is invariably effective in getting them to drop back.

[BMWST?]

Hazard lights are great to have IMHO. They can be used to say, 'I am posing a hazard to you.' and 'You are posing a hazard to me.' They can also be saying to oncoming drivers, 'There is a hazard behind me which you are approaching.' That's what vehicles coming towards you are doing when they have flashing lights and often a sign telling of a hazard which they are leading.

From my observations few drivers and riders use their hazard lights when it would be better if they did. My advice is to avoid bikes which don't have them and to learn how to use them readily when you do have them.

Often I'll use the hazard lights when a vehicle is following me too closely and it is invariably effective in getting them to drop back.

not unusual to see lane splitting bikes in welly with the hazards on.I use my hazards every now and then as a acknowledgement when say someone has let me into a queue,just a couple of flashes of the hazards

[Berries]

Hazard lights are great to have IMHO. They can be used to say, 'I am posing a hazard to you.' and 'You are posing a hazard to me.' They can also be saying to oncoming drivers, 'There is a hazard behind me which you are approaching.' That's what vehicles coming towards you are doing when they have flashing lights and often a sign telling of a hazard which they are leading.

From my observations few drivers and riders use their hazard lights when it would be better if they did. My advice is to avoid bikes which don't have them and to learn how to use them readily when you do have them.

Have never used them on a bike, seem like a gimmick to me. The one time I thought about it was once when I was first on the scene of a crash (not group riding). In the end I parked at the side of the road so I was not in the way so no need.

Not sure when you would be posing a hazard to someone else while on a bike. If someone else is posing a hazard to me then I am out of there, not going to bother wasting time trying to find the hazard light switch and hope they don't hit me.

Nobody in their right mind would see a motorbike coming towards them with the hazard lights on and think it was a pilot vehicle for a following hazard which was your third example. They would just think here's some dumb arse who doesn't know his lights are on.

Cars are different. I am thinking that's because the car is actually a hazard if you hit it because it is parked stupidly or slowing suddenly or towing someone. Can think of many examples where I would use them in a car, but none on the bike. Apart from the bike not really being a hazard to most road users I suspect that the distance between the indicators is such that they lose their effectiveness over a fairly short distance as well.

Meh, not a fan of relying on hazard lights and horns when really you should be focusing all your energy on getting out of harms way.

[WALRUS]

I don't think any of my bikes have ever had hazards :/

[Berries]

My last two bikes have, both were Suzuki.

[YellowDog]

Yes I agree with the OP. Never used them before, as not ever had the facility/function. My bike is new, so I would hope they are an included option. I know I have self cancelling indicators, so that's a start. Will check through the book and then look for the magic button

[WALRUS]

I'm pretty sure all Triumphs have had hazards for years. My folks have had4 generations of sprint, 3 generations of Street Triple, and a Bonneville SE, I'm almost positive they've all had hazards

[AllanB]

Don't think I have such a switch. Probably weighs too much

[GrahamA]

If you're not a hazard light user yet why not give it a go?
You don't have to 'rely on hazard lights or horns' but they can't hurt. Just like you can dress like a parrot, which I do, but don't rely on it to be seen. All of these things are aids rather than guarantees and out there we need every aid going.

Self-cancelling indicators have been mentioned here and they are are another aid I'd like to try, especially ones which cancel after the turn has been made rather than just on elapsed time. GPS-sensitive ones perhaps?

ABS was, and maybe still is, ridiculed only by idiots claiming they could do better, but as a notable rider and racer said to me once, "Nobody is 100% on the case 100% of the time. I'm realistic enough to know that I'm never 100% of anything.

[FJRider]

Hazard lights are great to have IMHO. They can be used to say, 'I am posing a hazard to you.' and 'You are posing a hazard to me.' They can also be saying to oncoming drivers, 'There is a hazard behind me which you are approaching.' That's what vehicles coming towards you are doing when they have flashing lights and often a sign telling of a hazard which they are leading.

From my observations few drivers and riders use their hazard lights when it would be better if they did. My advice is to avoid bikes which don't have them and to learn how to use them readily when you do have them.

Often I'll use the hazard lights when a vehicle is following me too closely and it is invariably effective in getting them to drop back.

Invariably ... cars and motorbikes don't see you until you pass them. If they haven't seen your headlight ... they wont see any hazard lights because they don't look in their mirrors.

Flash your headlights and they'll think you're telling them there is a cop ahead ... and slow down. Much more effective than hazards ...

If the one behind is too close ... pass the one in front or increase the gap ...

A If there is a need for people to let me into a queue (it may happen one day ) ... I would wave with the left hand. Few don't know what THAT means ...

As a few already said ... I don't have them and never felt the need to have them. And I cant think of a reason to have or use them ... that is better/easier than what I do already.

[Berries]

I stand corrected. When I said I could not imagine someone on a bike posing a hazard to others I did overlook someone travelling below the open road speed and stopping at give way signs.

It's kind of like a big L plate really.

[Ulsterkiwi]

Nobody in their right mind would see a motorbike coming towards them with the hazard lights on and think it was a pilot vehicle for a following hazard which was your third example. They would just think here's some dumb arse who doesn't know his lights are on.

or maybe they would? Of course having signage on the front of the bike that says "Pilot Vehicle" and strobing orange and purple lights makes it even clearer. That's happening now and may well be a growing phenomenon in the future.

[release_the_bees]

The one time I've used the hazard lights was going over the harbour bridge in gale force winds. The cars behind me gave extra space which was appreciated, as I was getting on the limit of being able to stay within my lane due to sudden wind gusts.

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[Moi]

As the Road Code states:

Hazard lights

When you turn on your hazard lights, both indicator lights flash at the same time as a warning to other road users. You should only turn on your hazard lights when your vehicle becomes a temporary hazard to other road users, such as when:

* you're changing a tyre on the side of the road
* your vehicle has broken down and is being towed.

Using cause you're being blown about on the bridge would make sense, in the olden days the bridge authority used to stop bikes/scooters when it was very windy and then escort them across in single file with a bridge authority vehicle front and rear...


Was interesting to note that on some mountain roads in NSW, drivers are permitted to use hazard flashers when it is foggy or in other adverse weather conditions.

[actungbaby]

Hazard lights are great to have IMHO. They can be used to say, 'I am posing a hazard to you.' and 'You are posing a hazard to me.' They can also be saying to oncoming drivers, 'There is a hazard behind me which you are approaching.' That's what vehicles coming towards you are doing when they have flashing lights and often a sign telling of a hazard which they are leading.

From my observations few drivers and riders use their hazard lights when it would be better if they did. My advice is to avoid bikes which don't have them and to learn how to use them readily when you do have them.

Often I'll use the hazard lights when a vehicle is following me too closely and it is invariably effective in getting them to drop back.

Great point i never thought them like that to be honest .what situwations do you mean though . ice trees down stuff like that i cant hurt can it .

only time i used mine on the car is if i stoped car to help somone parked to the side of the road . say people are near the road or chould be around a stoped broken down car.

One of my bikes has running lights on the indicators am not sure these are a great idea . more so if confuses a driver your turning . as there not common in nz . more the usa .i can take of one,wire to disable them.

Only other time i might have used hazards on a gs 450 but i dobt it had them. i rode up and down between stoped cars when the road was blocked off . highway . but that was only tell people what was going on ahead .