When can I use my hazards while driving?

David B

The examples given are NOT correct uses. Hazard lights are NOT the same as the emergency lights on police, fire, or EMS units. They are intended to be used for SLOW or STOPPED vehicles that present a hazard to other traffic. In the cases above the CORRECT action is to call 911! People in these situations that try to "rush" someone to the hospital are often upset and make dangerous decisions while driving. Even on the ambulance we don't transport lights and sirens for women in labor, in fact I've transported dozens of pregnant women, women in labor, even had one deliver during transport, never used the lights and siren. The only time I did use lights was when I activated the secondary flashers while stopped along side the road during the one field delivery since I couldn't pull all the way off.

- David

â™¥â˜†Mrs. Roseâ˜†â™¥

I see how it makes sense but I'm pretty sure speeding is speeding and it's illegal no matter what. Maybe there is a cop on here who can say for sure.

OKC MEDIC

Ok...very common question. The answer is NO, you cannot use your hazards while driving. The only time you should put them on when the vehicle is in motion is it if your car is disabled and you need to pull off the roadway. If you have a emergency, you need to pull over and call 911. Every officer will be understanding when they pull you over, but they will all tell you that if it is a true emergency, then you need to call 911, otherwise, you need to drive as you normally would and obey all posted signs and speed limits. Even if your wife is in labor, the lay person IS IN NO CONDITION TO DRIVE!! Scared, nervous, tunnel vision, etc. Call 911, let us come to you and take care of you. We have the legal right of way, training, insurance, and the sirens and lights to get you to the hospital safely.
Also, even then, a common thing people do if they are following a ambulance because your loved one is in the truck is to follow. Another wrong move. YOU CANNOT DO THIS!!!! People think that in a high stress scenerio that they can do whatever they want and they don't care. They will follow with their hazards on. In our state, we can and will pull over no matter how critical the patient is and tell you not to follow if we haven't told you already. By that time, P.D. is usually on the way anyway. We do not do this to be mean. I don't care if your a cop and you know how to drive lights and siren. If you don't have a emergency vehicle, you cannot safely drive above the speed limit or go through stop lights. LET ALONE FOLLOW AN AMBULANCE!!! You don't know why or when they may have to slam on there brakes, or see what they dodged. If you hit the ambulance, even a tap. We have to pull over and wait for another unit. In many states in that scenario, you immediatly loose your licence and will go to jail. Even if it is your grandma dying in the back.
Bottom line is, if your thinking you need to put your hazards on to drive so that you can go through stopsigns and drive faster, call 911. Dont drive. You tunnel vision is going and you have blinders on. Let the professionals do it because we've got the REALLY BIG LIGHTS AND SIRENS. Plus, if you get into a accident, it doesn't matter if your wife is in labor, your at fault. The," I had my hazards on while I was speeding and or blew that stop sign" defense will NEVER HOLD UP IN COURT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Firecracker .

I'm in agreement with David.
Hazard lights are for when you are a stopped, or moving slower than normal. They are not emergency lights.

The cop in your example should not have just called ahead. If anything, he should have acted as an escort, using HIS emergency lights.

logicalgal

Hazard lights bring attention to other drivers that something is requiring attention.........
Usually they are used when you are pulled over to the side of the highway due to a breakdown, a telephone call, a child in need of attention.......other drivers along the highway will expect that you are stopped and not about to move anytime soon, until you turn off the hazard lights.
Also, I have used hazard lights when coming upon a crash scene ahead, or any sudden and stopping traffic......in this case I also tap the brake lights to warn drivers behind me, so that Im not hit as well.
I have also used hazard lights when there is a pedestrian crossing at a crosswalk (without a traffic light) on a multi lane street with high traffic volume.
The average driver is not emotionally equipped to multitask as both driver and medical attendant and thus calling the proper 9 - 1 - 1 facility would be the best and safest procedure to follow.

UCANTCME

Most commonly, hazard lights are used on a disabled car which has been pulled to the side of the road.

Especially at night, they increase the visibility of the car so that it will not be hit. It also alerts drivers to the fact that there is a problem of some kind, and some drivers use hazard lights to ask for help, usually in combination with leaving the hood up.

Responders to an accident scene may also use their hazard lights to warn drivers about unusual conditions up ahead, and to help clear a lane for the accident.

joie

Hazard lights can be used when there is just that... a hazard! Like when you need to pull over because your car has just died & you are going to coast to a stop. Also for whenever you need to be on the side of the road. I have never heard of anyone using these because they deemed it necessary because they needed to go fast! Even the police & ambulance services are "suppose" to use the correct speed limit. If the guy had wrecked while taking his wife to the hospital, then the police officer could have been held accountable! God I wish people would use their brains... this officer overstepped his boundaries! No hazard lights ONLY if you are on the side of the road or something has gone wrong with your car!

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