Vehicles are fascinating. Watching how vehicles including trucks, are designed to have alerts for safety, emergencies, or to pass certain messages across to other drivers and road users, shows a great deal of detailing on the part of innovators. Hazard lights are designed to be used for unusual situations and while honking is a form of road communication, truckers are known to flash their lights as a form of communication since their vehicles are significantly larger than others.
Some states have different laws guiding the use of hazard lights to avoid misuse, yet, truckers must still use them as there are situations that demand it. Read on to learn why truckers may be using their hazard lights.
What is the Purpose of Hazard Lights?
Changing a tire on the road and stopping quickly if you have come in contact with slow traffic are not exactly cogent reasons to turn on your hazard lights. Hazard lights are for more serious scenarios like your truck breaking down in the middle of the road and being towed, or any situation in which your truck becomes a temporary hazard or obstruction. The hazard light flashes intermittently to alert other drivers of the obstructive situation.
When do you Turn on Your Hazard Lights?
Your hazard light is a great protective feature of your truck and you can consult your car manual to know how to turn on the hazard light for your truck. You must also identify the specific times to turn it on.
In cases of rain and heavy outpour, what you turn on is your headlight, not your hazard light. However, if the rains get heavy and you wish to slow down or stop, the hazard light informs other drivers of your intention to pull off from the road− that way they are aware, and no harm occurs in the process.
You can turn on your hazard light when:
- You have been ordered to stop by a Police Officer.
- You are encountering problems with your truck and you need to stop to check it out.
- Your car breaks down in the middle of the road or in a position that disrupts the movement of other road users.
- You are passing a warning across to other cars behind you to slow down before they run into obstructions ahead like an accident, a fallen tree, snow dump, and such obstructions
- You notice that highway traffic is coming to a swift stop. The aim here is to prevent other drivers from jamming their brakes last minute and creating an accident.
- You are informing another truck of safety, so they can switch back into the lane.
- There is a funeral procession.
Why do Truck Drivers Turn Their Hazard Lights on?
Hazard lights are a signal that there is an emergency or a delay. Truck drivers turn their lights on to communicate. They are on the highway and as professionals who have undergone training and are obligated as humans beings also, to protect themselves and others on the road, they use their hazard lights to communicate various signals.
- If you pass a trucker and they switch on their hazard light, they are informing you of safety ahead; sort of permission to continue your driving since the road is clear.
- If the truck is moving at a slower pace, let’s say 50MPH or less on the highway, their hazard light is on to inform other drivers that their truck is running slowly in that time.
- To say “Thank You”. If you let them into your lane, say something nice to them, or act in a road-worthy behavior, they may flash their hazard lights in appreciation.
- To get help when their truck breaks down. It is normal for truckers to switch on their hazard lights when their trucks break down in the middle of the road, but they also do this to get help. Imagine the relief you will experience when another trucker comes to your rescue after getting the signal via your hazard lights.
How Long Should Your Hazard Lights be on?
Depending on the purpose for which the hazard light was turned on, an hour or slightly more than that seems feasible. Your hazard light can be on for longer but you must consider your battery size, the state of your battery, and the LED consumption globes in your light as these things can affect the truck as well. All things being equal, your lights should run for a few hours till you get the purpose for which it was turned on, sorted out.
Conclusion
Truckers know the road better than most people and thus use their hazard lights as a visual horn. Every truck driver needs their hazard lights for times it matters the most and although it should be used sporadically as the situations that warrant it does not occur often, truck drivers must also embrace timely usage of their hazard light, and switch it on where necessary.