hazard light

[pup2]

Sorry. Miscommunication. Sayang dami pa namang nag-react. I meant to say pag malakas ang ulan at nakakita ako ng hazard light sa NLEX na ina-assume ko na gumagapang pa-abante ang sasakyan at hindi necessarily nakatigil. It's not a stupid assumption naman kasi kahit nakatigil siya talaga, I can still stop in time since I'm assuming nga gumagapang eh.

I don't think EDSA speeds would necessitate hazard lights for visibility reasons, except for certain hours ng new year (specially in the early 90s).

And by the way, yes, I've lived in the US east coast for several years kaya nga may karugtong na Trucks/PUBs yung last sentence eh -- hindi lang ulan. May close relative kasi ako na inararo ng 20-footer na inaantok yung driver bulok pa yung truck. I don't think those things would even be on foreign roads and I think those are even more important to implement than mere driving courtesy.

I've been driving safely over 20 years and just driving over 30 (buti di ako nadale nung pagitan ano?). hahaha. Kayo?

Yun namang sa EWD, nagtataka lang ako kasi past 6 vehicles ko nabibili lahat may libreng EWD na. Eh kung madami pa din wala nun eh di lalo na yung rear fog lights! (Sabagay jeep nga madalas walang ilaw eh ano -- what do we do then?)

Yung mga ayaw sa assumption ko, eh di huwag niyo. I'd rather risk confusing you than being rear-ended by a 20-footer anyway.

[froshie1]

Yung mga ayaw sa assumption ko, eh di huwag niyo. I'd rather risk confusing you than being rear-ended by a 20-footer anyway.

problem naman dyan, baka may maaksidente sa pagsignal mo ng maling signal.

[Dr.Kamiya]

Proper use of hazard lights according to the highway code online:

96: Hazard warning lights. These may be used when your vehicle is stationary, to warn that it is temporarily obstructing traffic. Never use them as an excuse for dangerous or illegal parking. You MUST NOT use hazard warning lights whilst driving unless you are on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway and you need to warn drivers behind you of a hazard or obstruction ahead. Only use them for long enough to ensure that your warning has been observed.
[SIZE=-1]Law RVLR reg 27[/SIZE]

[pup2]

Ayun naman pala eh ... "Never use them as an excuse for dangerous or illegal parking."

"unless you are on a motorway (aka NLEX, right?) or unrestricted dual carriageway and you need to warn drivers behind you of a hazard ... Only use them for long enough to ensure that your warning has been observed."

I knew I couldn't have been THAT far off the ball park.

I think you're confusing this with ABUSING the use of your hazard lights -- not using them as an exception. I know I've never had nor caused others to have a big accident because of my kind of hazard light use either. Kung may alam kayo e di post niyo dito para malaman naman nung iba kung pano ang tamang paggamit ng hazard o kaya magkuwento naman kayo ng experience niyo.

OT: My biggest accident was when I was improperly seated (too reclined) in a slow diesel car that I was too impatient in. Yung sa pamilya naman, ayun nga na-total wreck yung van nung driver namin ng 20-footer truck on a rainy day sa hiway habang nagmemenor.

[Alpha_One]

Sorry. Miscommunication. Sayang dami pa namang nag-react. I meant to say pag malakas ang ulan at nakakita ako ng hazard light sa NLEX na ina-assume ko na gumagapang pa-abante ang sasakyan at hindi necessarily nakatigil. It's not a stupid assumption naman kasi kahit nakatigil siya talaga, I can still stop in time since I'm assuming nga gumagapang eh.

I don't think EDSA speeds would necessitate hazard lights for visibility reasons, except for certain hours ng new year (specially in the early 90s).

And by the way, yes, I've lived in the US east coast for several years kaya nga may karugtong na Trucks/PUBs yung last sentence eh -- hindi lang ulan. May close relative kasi ako na inararo ng 20-footer na inaantok yung driver bulok pa yung truck. I don't think those things would even be on foreign roads and I think those are even more important to implement than mere driving courtesy.

I've been driving safely over 20 years and just driving over 30 (buti di ako nadale nung pagitan ano?). hahaha. Kayo?

Yun namang sa EWD, nagtataka lang ako kasi past 6 vehicles ko nabibili lahat may libreng EWD na. Eh kung madami pa din wala nun eh di lalo na yung rear fog lights! (Sabagay jeep nga madalas walang ilaw eh ano -- what do we do then?)

Yung mga ayaw sa assumption ko, eh di huwag niyo. I'd rather risk confusing you than being rear-ended by a 20-footer anyway.

The keyword in your post is "not necessarily". Of course you got us confused, you were practically saying (before saying "not necessarily") that any random lunatic with hazards on will be moving.

True, I could assume that "he's not necessarily stopped". But then again I could just as safely assume nothing, other than he's being a hazard of course, and prepare to avoid him. Which amounts to the same thing.

Oh yeah, 90% of all drivers think their skill is "above average". Which is of course, impossible. I make no qualms about you being a better driver than I am. Of course you are! I'll be the first guy to admit that I'm a rubbish driver, and ten times as bad when it comes to parking. I haven't exactly been living for thirty years you know, let alone drive for that long. I'm sorry, but I really have nothing to brag about in the end.

[StraightSix]

Proper use of hazard lights according to the highway code online:

Bossing, the Highway Code is the set of rules for driving in the UK. It would be best to quote a Philippine driving rule regarding hazard lights.

To highlight the difference ... you may not use hazard lights while you're driving on UK roads that have intersections, such as city streets, because your signal indicators are disabled. You can do that in the Philippines when you're rushing someone to the hospital.

[mazdamazda]

Yung mga ayaw sa assumption ko, eh di huwag niyo. I'd rather risk confusing you than being rear-ended by a 20-footer anyway.

So let us say...

You are using your hazard lights while traversing the NLEX's middle lane during a heavy downpour (like every other driver out there).

You want to overtake a slow-moving vehicle by going to your left lane... another car is coming off the overtaking lane and signals to go to your right lane. He might be assuming that since you are using your hazard lights that you will not be changing lanes anytime.

Then the inevitable happens... you both go for the same lane... bam!

===

And oh, it is ok to confuse other motorists just for your own safety? Well, they certainly don't teach that in driving schools or publish that in defensive driving books. :lol:

[mbeige]

Pup2,

The accident with the 20 foot truck isn't your fault since hindi ka naka-hazard lights. The problem of that is that the guy in that truck was driving too fast for the conditions and he assumed he could brake on time. Whenever we drive we take risks. How would you know the car behind you will not plow into you at any given moment? There is no way to really tell and prevent this. After all, of all people, ikaw ang may experience dito like you said.

Get it off your chest, it wasn't your fault that he hit you from behind. Others will agree that considering this, it is not wise to further add insult to injury by confusing others when you turn on your hazard lights when unnecessary just so you will not be rear ended again.

Honestly I see that you have a point that hazard lights may prevent rear end collisions in this case. But when you are moving and using the hazard lights, you are definitely not using the hazard lights properly. If a truck will hit you from behind, weather or not you have the hazards on, he will plow into you in extreme weather conditions if he doesn't brake on time. I'm sure you know that trucks need much more braking distance to stop. But consider too that their tires aren't really the best ones either, and that considering that we're talking about Philippine driving, the truck may be overloaded too and may require significantly more braking distance to avoid the collision.

[trackers888]

"Hazard" speak for itself kahit dito sa forum

[viper2lt]

mainit masyado ang balitaktakan dito. hazard lights pag emergency lang ako. malakas na ulan, hindi kasi kahit ako sumasakit ang mata samga naka hazard. hehehe...

[Dr.Kamiya]

Bossing, the Highway Code is the set of rules for driving in the UK. It would be best to quote a Philippine driving rule regarding hazard lights.

To highlight the difference ... you may not use hazard lights while you're driving on UK roads that have intersections, such as city streets, because your signal indicators are disabled. You can do that in the Philippines when you're rushing someone to the hospital.

You're right, of course there are differences from place to place... But the basic driving rules in most countries are governmed by an international treaty under the authority of the UN. Unless specified otherwise, guidelines that apply to one nation are applicable to others, especially considering our own traffic laws are based largely on US road rules, and the US is also signatory to the UN treaty.

I don't think there are very specific rules regarding the use of hazard lights written down under local traffic law, so I quoted guidelines from the highway code. It doesn't mean i'm right, and that we should follow the same rules outright but we might consider the same guidelines as "good practice".

For clarification: Dual carriageway = two lane road

[redorange]

And by the way, yes, I've lived in the US east coast for several years kaya nga may karugtong na Trucks/PUBs yung last sentence eh -- hindi lang ulan. May close relative kasi ako na inararo ng 20-footer na inaantok yung driver bulok pa yung truck. I don't think those things would even be on foreign roads and I think those are even more important to implement than mere driving courtesy.

I've been driving safely over 20 years and just driving over 30 (buti di ako nadale nung pagitan ano?). hahaha. Kayo?

Yun namang sa EWD, nagtataka lang ako kasi past 6 vehicles ko nabibili lahat may libreng EWD na. Eh kung madami pa din wala nun eh di lalo na yung rear fog lights! (Sabagay jeep nga madalas walang ilaw eh ano -- what do we do then?)

Yung mga ayaw sa assumption ko, eh di huwag niyo. I'd rather risk confusing you than being rear-ended by a 20-footer anyway.

If you lived in the US for that long then you of all people should know the proper use of the hazzard lights. I guess this is an example of pinoys going abroad and doing things the correct way only to return to the Philippines and go back to old habits.

You say you don't care if you confuse us but don't want to be rear ended by a 20 footer. But what if you confuse the driver of the 20 footer also with your actions don't you think it will cause an accident? Doing something because you feel it will make you safer, even though others have told you it's the wrong thing to do will only cause more harm than good in the long run. Driving is an act in which you put your life in the hands of other drivers in the roadway so it requires that participants follow the same rules otherwise chaos and anarchy happens(uhmm that explains the traffic in the metro) which may result in injury or worst death.

[StraightSix]

You're right, of course there are differences from place to place... But the basic driving rules in most countries are governmed by an international treaty under the authority of the UN. Unless specified otherwise, guidelines that apply to one nation are applicable to others, especially considering our own traffic laws are based largely on US road rules, and the US is also signatory to the UN treaty.

I don't think there are very specific rules regarding the use of hazard lights written down under local traffic law, so I quoted guidelines from the highway code. It doesn't mean i'm right, and that we should follow the same rules outright but we might consider the same guidelines as "good practice".

For clarification: Dual carriageway = two lane road

Unfortunately, you quoted the whole of Rule 96 without noting that it is a British road rule, so I felt I have to point that out as some of the people in this forum may get the wrong idea as to when to use hazard lights - and Rule 96 is one of those which has a "unless specified otherwise" statement.

Yes, a dual carriageway is obviously a two lane road. What's not obvious is what the Highway Code is refering to are unrestricted A-roads which has the same max speed limit as motorways (70mph). As the speed limit implies, these are roadways that usually start or end at the edge of towns and cities, and that they don't have intersections but slip roads ... my point regarding hazard lights along city streets in the UK vis-a-vis the Philippines.

At least we both agree that there are differences Cheers!

[IMm29]

Whoa! Now this a hazardous topic! ;)

But seriously, so you can minimize the use and the need to use hazard lights, ensure that your tail lights are working properly. This should include using the correct-colored tail lights and clean tail lamp housings so that the lights are as visible as possible.

You can also go the extra mile and make sure that your friends' and family's cars' tail lights are working properly. And as in the case of seeing other cars with underinflated or flat tires still running as if nothing's amiss, you can also call their attention on a taillight not working properly. It's a whole other story if he does anything about it. But then again, proper enforcement is now a government agency's job.

I only use my hazard lights when I'm in an emergency, in an accident, stopped/stalled by the side of the road, temporarily parked, and in a funeral convoy.

[mbeige]

And as in the case of seeing other cars with underinflated or flat tires still running as if nothing's amiss, you can also call their attention on a taillight not working properly. It's a whole other story if he does anything about it. But then again, proper enforcement is now a government agency's job.

This is probably the best and easiest thing you could do. Point out things that are not working properly to the driver/owner and let him fix it. This makes it all safer for everybody. Prevention > the cure.

Whenever I do this (warn others of flat tire, no lights, etc) and I see them off pulling over to the side of the road, I sometimes wonder if they're in much better shape now.

[NazQ]

mejo nakaka confuse nga ang hazard lights pag umuulan. lalo na pag low visibility, para kang pinipicturan ng maraming tao. tapos meron pang nag bbright ng headlights sa likod mo, whew... experienced this several times sa NLEX.

I only use the hazard lights when:

1. changing flats
2. somethings wrong with the car (ex. I had to drive to servitek on almost flat tires because some idiot punctured two tires (the car is parked in front of our house). I couldn't remove one of them because the some of the wheel nuts are loose-threaded.
3. in emergency situations (rushing to hospital- although I was not the one driving at the time)

[pup2]

The keyword in your post is "not necessarily". Of course you got us confused, you were practically saying (before saying "not necessarily") that any random lunatic with hazards on will be moving.

True, I could assume that "he's not necessarily stopped". But then again I could just as safely assume nothing, other than he's being a hazard of course, and prepare to avoid him. Which amounts to the same thing.

Oh yeah, 90% of all drivers think their skill is "above average". Which is of course, impossible. I make no qualms about you being a better driver than I am. Of course you are! I'll be the first guy to admit that I'm a rubbish driver, and ten times as bad when it comes to parking. I haven't exactly been living for thirty years you know, let alone drive for that long. I'm sorry, but I really have nothing to brag about in the end.

Sorry din. Miscommunication lang din talaga. Nauuna kasi isip ko kesa type ko eh. Akala ko na-type ko na dahil naisip ko na yun pala hindi pa.

[pup2]

So let us say...

You are using your hazard lights while traversing the NLEX's middle lane during a heavy downpour (like every other driver out there).

You want to overtake a slow-moving vehicle by going to your left lane... another car is coming off the overtaking lane and signals to go to your right lane. He might be assuming that since you are using your hazard lights that you will not be changing lanes anytime.

Then the inevitable happens... you both go for the same lane... bam!

===

And oh, it is ok to confuse other motorists just for your own safety? Well, they certainly don't teach that in driving schools or publish that in defensive driving books. :lol:

If I feel confident enough to overtake, i would've turned off the light already since tapos na the need to warn others of the danger.

You mean no one else wouldn't? And I mean we're talking about a real life vs a supposed confusion not necessarily leading to an accident? Wala pa ngang nagre-report ng accident dito na may kinalaman dun sa confusion eh.

[pup2]

If you lived in the US for that long then you of all people should know the proper use of the hazzard lights. I guess this is an example of pinoys going abroad and doing things the correct way only to return to the Philippines and go back to old habits.

You say you don't care if you confuse us but don't want to be rear ended by a 20 footer. But what if you confuse the driver of the 20 footer also with your actions don't you think it will cause an accident? Doing something because you feel it will make you safer, even though others have told you it's the wrong thing to do will only cause more harm than good in the long run.

Driving is an act in which you put your life in the hands of other drivers in the roadway so it requires that participants follow the same rules otherwise chaos and anarchy happens(uhmm that explains the traffic in the metro) which may result in injury or worst death.

1. I haven't had to use this in the US since sa East Coast, I wouldn't go out pag super sama ang weather in the first place (which is rare anyway -- compared to here). But I would've if I felt I needed to.

2. Others here have told me mali but the rule quoted by another person provided for an exception to the rule precisely under the circumstances I outlined.

3. Precisely, and that includes their exceptions. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't follow even BASIC rules. Kaya nga yata hindi na binabanggit ang exceptions sa rules eh. Kung basic rules pa lang madami ng hindi sumusunod, lagyan mo pa kaya ng exceptions yung ibang rules, eh di lalo na. Kaya nga hindi ko naman sinasabing sumunod kayo sa akin eh.

Sinasabi ko lang, the exception DOES EXIST kaya huwag niyo namang sabihing masama ako o hindi ako marunong magmaneho dahil mas maraming lukaret kesa sa akin at sa mas importanteng bagay pa.

Kung gusto niyo namang baguhin ko ang driving ko, magkuwento kayo ng EXPERIENCE dahil mukhang hindi na nagtutugma ang mga rule book dito bukod sa contrary siya sa experience ko.

[redorange]

1. I haven't had to use this in the US since sa East Coast, I wouldn't go out pag super sama ang weather in the first place (which is rare anyway -- compared to here). But I would've if I felt I needed to.

2. Others here have told me mali but the rule quoted by another person provided for an exception to the rule precisely under the circumstances I outlined.

3. Precisely, and that includes their exceptions. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't follow even BASIC rules. Kaya nga yata hindi na binabanggit ang exceptions sa rules eh. Kung basic rules pa lang madami ng hindi sumusunod, lagyan mo pa kaya ng exceptions yung ibang rules, eh di lalo na. Kaya nga hindi ko naman sinasabing sumunod kayo sa akin eh.

Sinasabi ko lang, the exception DOES EXIST kaya huwag niyo namang sabihing masama ako o hindi ako marunong magmaneho dahil mas maraming lukaret kesa sa akin at sa mas importanteng bagay pa.

Kung gusto niyo namang baguhin ko ang driving ko, magkuwento kayo ng EXPERIENCE dahil mukhang hindi na nagtutugma ang mga rule book dito bukod sa contrary siya sa experience ko.

I guess the part of the East Coast you stayed in didn't have snow or rain. BTW dust storms and snow storms can be worst for visibility than any rain storm that I have ever encountered in the Philippines or Guam(same weather)while driving. Good thing that you didn't drive with your hazzards on while in the US because you would have been pulled over since it's illegal unless for the reasons already mentioned above. I can't give you any experiences since I don't know of anyone who drives with their hazzards because of rain.