Courtesy gestures on the road

[Geoff.D]

I've got one. Had it since 1981. That's 19 years before the law you quoted

And what burns my butt more than a quick flash of hazards when you're thanking someone, is every moron who puts his hazards on every time it starts raining or there's a little mist. Or when someone miles up ahead slows down and I actually saw it before the chop in front of me and already backed off, but he has to tell me he's panicking by putting on his hazards.

Here's another one - it's customary (especially in the Eastern Cape) to flash your hazards to warn people that there are animals in the road. I've never heard of anyone getting a ticket for doing that, and it's a fairly universal warning that they need to keep their eyes peeled. I do it if I've just passed animals, and I'll continue to do it if there's a chance that it'll save someone from hitting a cow.

On the subject of trucks telling you it's OK to overtake, I won't go unless I can see for myself. It's my life on the line, and I'm not taking someone else's word that I can get past safely. And no, I'm not scared of overtaking, on the contrary, I'll get past most things in a gap smaller than most drivers will attempt, because I've been doing it on bad roads for thirty odd years.

Just as you say you will continue to warn people about animals on the road, so will I continue to put on my hazards when traffic slows down, just in case the twit behind me is not you!:twisted:

And the same goes for mist driving. I reserve the right to define an emergency according to my own terms and standards.

In fairness, when the ABS on my Cupra was activated, it automatically activated the hazards...

Yes! There are quite few countries where the above is a legal requirement.

 

[Colin62]

In fairness, when the ABS on my Cupra was activated, it automatically activated the hazards...

If your ABS is activated, I'd say it counts as an emergency

Rather Bang Jan than Dooie Jan. When the mist is thick enough, it's perfectly reasonable to switch on hazards as you are potentially risking being invisible until it's too late otherwise. No reason to be brave on the road, if it could end somebody's life.

I don't know how often you drive in the mist, but I do it a lot, and hazards aren't helpful. They distract and blind you, which means you don't see any other obstacle as early as you would if they weren't flashing in your face. Rather put your headlights on, and if you have them, rear fog lights. If you don't have rear fogs, and notice someone coming up behind you, touch your brakes to flash your brake light so that they get a little extra warning.

 

[Dan C]

Any car first registered after July 1, 2006 needs to carry one.

OK checked in my boot and what did I find ... a warning triangle :crylaugh:

 

[gregmcc]

I've noticed here all the trucks and large vans use the left/right indicator to thank you. When I first arrived here I thought WTF the guy just moved into my lane now he is indicating to go back?!

 

[Ho3n3r]

If your ABS is activated, I'd say it counts as an emergency




I don't know how often you drive in the mist, but I do it a lot, and hazards aren't helpful. They distract and blind you, which means you don't see any other obstacle as early as you would if they weren't flashing in your face. Rather put your headlights on, and if you have them, rear fog lights. If you don't have rear fogs, and notice someone coming up behind you, touch your brakes to flash your brake light so that they get a little extra warning.

The people I drive with normally don't have spotlights for hazards, so not sure where you're driving, but they're not distracting at all, they just increase visibility.

And if someone's headlights aren't already on by the time they feel the need to put on hazards in the mist, pull them over and tell them they're a moron.

 

[DA-LION-619]

The people I drive with normally don't have spotlights for hazards, so not sure where you're driving, but they're not distracting at all, they just increase visibility.

And if someone's headlights aren't already on by the time they feel the need to put on hazards in the mist, pull them over and tell them they're a moron.

It is distracting. Like people who use hi beams for no reason, especially when going up/down hill, my retinas get fried.

 

[Ho3n3r]

It is distracting. Like people who use hi beams for no reason, especially when going up/down hill, my retinas get fried.

I must drive in another country. High beams != Hazards in terms of brightness, not even close, last time I checked.

You guys must really get blinded at intersections with people wanting to turn.

 

[Colin62]

The people I drive with normally don't have spotlights for hazards, so not sure where you're driving, but they're not distracting at all, they just increase visibility.

Try Town Hill in the mist. Three lanes of traffic, going through an S bend. I defy you to know who is where and in which lane and going at what speed when they're all popping their hazards. And if you think hazards aren't bright, then why are you even using them to increase your visibility?

 

[Colin62]

You guys must really get blinded at intersections with people wanting to turn.

Funny thing is, you can argue till the cows come home, but I'd not have said it distracts and blinds me if it didn't. That's my experience. If yours is different, then that's fine. But now at least you're aware that for some people it's a problem, even if you personally are fine with it. If you choose to continue using your hazards, I just hope you're never in front of me.

Just looking at where you live, I seriously doubt you even know what a good solid mist looks like

 

[Ho3n3r]

Funny thing is, you can argue till the cows come home, but I'd not have said it distracts and blinds me if it didn't. That's my experience. If yours is different, then that's fine. But now at least you're aware that for some people it's a problem, even if you personally are fine with it. If you choose to continue using your hazards, I just hope you're never in front of me.

Just looking at where you live, I seriously doubt you even know what a good solid mist looks like

So you assume I only drive around here? I've probably driven in thicker mist than you ever have, many times. And I'm not from here originally. So don't act like you know me. See my location, assume I've never seen mist? Lol. Clearly it's Friday.

But the feeling is mutual - hope I never drive near you because you're clearly not willing to sacrifice a little eye pain on your sensitive eyes for safety. Ignorance isn't always bliss.

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

The people I drive with normally don't have spotlights for hazards, so not sure where you're driving, but they're not distracting at all, they just increase visibility.

And if someone's headlights aren't already on by the time they feel the need to put on hazards in the mist, pull them over and tell them they're a moron.

+1, headlights just flashed wont blind anyone...
unless your Jeremy Clarkson and enjoy that kind of thing....

 

[Ho3n3r]

+1, headlights just flashed wont blind anyone...
unless your Jeremy Clarkson and enjoy that kind of thing....

Headlights may do that actually, but I haven't seen any hazards bright enough to do that, unfortunately. Otherwise everyone on our roads would be blind with all the taxi's next to the roads with their hazards on every day.

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

Headlights may do that actually, but I haven't seen any hazards bright enough to do that, unfortunately. Otherwise everyone on our roads would be blind with all the taxi's next to the roads with their hazards on every day.

exactly, I see nothing wrong with a bit of courtesy displayed on the road
in actual fact, I remember on my Driving test there was a point displayed for "lack of courtesy" and I remember asking the cop who did my test what was that for,

told me its flashing your hazards, and flicking your indicators when you give a gap, or for somebody to proceed.

 

[Geoff.D]

@Colin62,

What is getting to us is not your point about being blinded by hazards, etc, but the impression you give to us that only you are able to decide what is the correct thing to do under hazardous situations.

(1) You bemoan the fact that some use their hazards to warn traffic behind them when the lane they are in is slowing down, but at the same time say you will continue to warn others' about animals in the road as just one example.

(2) Just leave the attitude out of it, state your case why you don't use hazard lights in mist and leave it at that. We get you, you believe it is wrong to drive with hazards on in heavy rain and mist, we get you but, that does NOT mean we have to have the same problem or we should stop using our hazards when we deem it to be necessary.

(3) Just because you have chosen to live in a mist belt, does not mean the rest of us are not faced with seasonal mist and have not driven in mist ever either. My first recollection of driving for hours in mist was in the old Transkei on the way to Coffee bay, in the mountains around Molteno and Aliwal North in the Eastern Cape, in the mountains between Pietersburg and Tzaneen, and yes even in the Kalahari on a trip between Upington and Danielskuil! And don't try and tell a Capetonian about mist driving when they drive on the N2 between Somerset West and Cape Town! When the peasoup does decide to settle in Gauteng, it is just as bad as it is anywhere else, even though it may not occur as often as it does in KZN.

Have you undertaken a trip between Dar Es Salaam and Kampala in the rainy season? No? Well then I can equally say you know blow all about driving in hazardous conditions!

 

[BigAl-sa]

Does anyone here actually have a valid driver's license? The question relating to hazard lights is common in the learners and can come up for that actual test as well.



Also here: www.saflii.org/za/legis/consol_reg/nrta93o1996rangnr225632.pdf

I actually don't care if it's legal or not. Driving in thick mist or really *heavy* rain, I put my hazards on. The flashing yellow is *far* more visible than the red of the tail lights (if the oke ahead of you has even bothered to put his tail lights on).

 

[Ho3n3r]

I actually don't care if it's legal or not. Driving in thick mist or really *heavy* rain, I put my hazards on. The flashing yellow is *far* more visible than the red of the tail lights (if the oke ahead of you has even bothered to put his tail lights on).

Just watch out for Colin, he may go blind if you put on any form of light on your car, even the roof lamp probably.

 

[bwana]

I actually don't care if it's legal or not. Driving in thick mist or really *heavy* rain, I put my hazards on. The flashing yellow is *far* more visible than the red of the tail lights (if the oke ahead of you has even bothered to put his tail lights on).

Doesn't your car have fog lights? Even just rear ones?

 

[DA-LION-619]

This has been discussed before.
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/338689-Use-of-Hazard-Lights-In-Heavy-Rain

 

[Genisys]

Doesn't your car have fog lights? Even just rear ones?

Read fog lights is really annoying.

 

[Colin62]

So you assume I only drive around here? I've probably driven in thicker mist than you ever have, many times. And I'm not from here originally. So don't act like you know me. See my location, assume I've never seen mist? Lol. Clearly it's Friday.

But the feeling is mutual - hope I never drive near you because you're clearly not willing to sacrifice a little eye pain on your sensitive eyes for safety. Ignorance isn't always bliss.

I did put a smiley in there to indicate I wasn't being serious with that comment, and I really wasn't trying to cause offence. But for the record, you just categorically stated that you know more about mist than I do without know me from a bar of soap - so should we call it a draw?

And yes, you're right, my eyes are sensitive. And maybe that's all it is. But I'm not the only one who finds it distracting. And yes I know that you haven't changed your mind, but maybe I've made someone aware that there's two sides to it, and maybe I'll be lucky enough to be behind him and not you tonight.