Can you use your car TURNING blinkers and EMERGENCY blinkers to signal drivers of other hazards ahead?

George A

Using your directional signals will only make the person think that you are wanting to turn left or right & if there isn't a road to turn left or right onto, they will probably just think "Look at that idiot driving along with his turn signal on."

Hazards work some for oncoming traffic, but usually they respond more if you flash your headlights. Hazards work better for traffic following you & you see something ahead that they may not see yet. I have avoided being rear ended a number of times by turning my hazard flashers on when I see something ahead that the cars behind me can't see yet.

krazybob613

Most drivers will not understand what you are trying to convey with the turn signals - the turn signals are only intended to convey your intention to turn or change lanes.

A 2 or 3 blink flash of the 4 Way flashers will alert oncoming drivers of a road hazard ahead if they are paying attention.

A momentary flash of the high beam headlights means several possible things depending on the situation.
If a vehicle has just passed your car it means "You are a safe distance ahead of me to pull back into this lane"
If you are about to pass a vehicle (especially big trucks during periods of reduced visibility) a flash of your high beam says "Hi - I am pulling alongside to pass and just wanted you to be aware that I am here"
If you are on a multi-lane Highway and a slower vehicle is in the passing lane it says "Please pull over as soon as it is safe to do so, so that I can pass you"

Please use your low beam headlights at all times when it is raining, foggy or snowing - even if your car has daytime running lights! Be Seen = Be Safe!

sholaouk

Here in the UK, you should only use your hazard lights to warn vehicles behind you of danger ahead! Any other use of indicators will be confusing and can cause accidents.

You should only give way to other traffic (reversing into main road) if it is safe and other vehicles will not be inconvinienced. Flashing of headlights is another misused signal on UK roads.

Rapid Fire

In Canada you may only use your four way flashers if the car is stationary. It is illegal to drive with them on. And the rest of the responders are right. No one else would have a clue as to what you are trying to convey to them.

Just flash your high beams. That is the Universal signal of something in the road ahead and any smart driver will slow down and be more observant.

Javier M

There's no reason for you to try and play traffic cop. There is the possibility that you could be held liable for an accident. If you slow down for something, or change lanes for something, people should be able to figure out the rest on their own.

Friendly Stranger..

I think that its not exactly practical to do that. Using your turning signal usually represents to other drivers that you are turning. If they are looking at the turn signal, how would they know that something is ahead? The same thing goes for emergency flashers. We as drivers have been taught that if we see emergency flashers that means something is wrong with the driver or the vehicle and they are alerting us that their vehicle may not be working or the driver may be having a problem. If there are any road changes ahead or any road closures, usually signs are placed in those parts of the road to alert us. The only way I can think of a driver who wants to let another driver know of something ahead is by actually motioning to the drivers behind that something has changed in the traffic. Otherwise signs serve the purpose of letting drivers know of what it is ahead.

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