STOP using hazard lights in fog

[Anony-mousse]

TO ALL DRIVERS OF CARS EQUIPPED WITH FOG LIGHTS (please refer to manual if you don't know what that is)

So every time I'm driving over Sir Lowry's Pass and there's fog, all those people switch on their hazards because they simply do not understand how to drive in foggy conditions. Hundreds of cars in the queue, all blinking like a damn christmas tree.

Most of the cars are equipped with fog lights, something many car owners obviously don't even know what it is. If you are one of them, go back to driving school.

Hazard lights are there to alert other drivers of dangerous situations, like yesterday on the N2 when this truck was standing half way on the N2. But how to realise it's actually a dangerous situation if everybody has the hazards switched on already?!? So oncoming traffic was not alert in time, visibility 30-50 metres, we all were just lucky that no accident was caused.

So people, PLEASE STOP USING HAZARDS IN FOG!!!

 

[Hamster]

Switching on my hazards when there is so much fog that I cannot see 10m in front of me makes me more visible. In fact I'd rather switch on all my lights and look like a Christmas tree idiot to you than have some idiot drive into me.

 

[Zenbaas]

Switching on my hazards when there is so much fog that I cannot see 10m in front of me makes me more visible. In fact I'd rather switch on all my lights and look like a Christmas tree idiot to you than have some idiot drive into me.

Agreed. On some cars their lights are so poor that the only thing I can see in really dense fog is their hazards.

 

[ponder]

Switching on my hazards when there is so much fog that I cannot see 10m in front of me makes me more visible.

I've driven in fog like that where you can hardly see your hand in front of your face and I also switched my hazards on.

 

[LazyLion]

Ja I disagree. Using hazards in dense fog is a necessity and a common sense reaction. Will keep doing it.

 

[DJ...]

I've driven through fog where the only lights I could make out of the car in front of me were the hazards. Barely...

 

[Grant]

Anony

I am with the others.
I regularly tow a speed boat up that way & am quite happy to be exposed to hazard lights in thick fog.
The only reason I can see someone getting upset, is if they are trying to drive too fast for prevailing conditions & get frustrated & confused by all the christmas trees.
Unfortunately, with the fog lights, there will be those that will then also complain about drivers who have forgotten to switch fog lights off again. (and of course I would not be pointing fingers here)

 

[Anony-mousse]

Yeah, that's why you should all go back to driving school

If visibility is so poor that you cannot see more than 10m and you are worried about not being seen because you have an old car, then you should stop and switch on your hazards to warn oncoming driving.

Be as it may, it seems we aren't going anywhere with this, so I will provide additional links that teach how to drive in fog:

http://www.wikihow.com/Drive-Safely-in-Fog
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/seasonal/driving-in-fog.html

And especially for the guys who still think they have to play christmas tree:

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_22350960/roadshow-dont-use-emergency-lights-while-driving-fog

 

[DJ...]

Oh yeah. Stationary vehicles in fog is the solution. Sure sure...

 

[w1z4rd]

So every time I'm driving over Sir Lowry's Pass and there's fog, all those dumbasses switch on their hazards because they simply do not understand how to drive in foggy conditions. Hundreds of cars in the queue, all blinking like a damn christmas tree.

Most of the cars are equipped with fog lights, something many car owners obviously don't even know what it is. If you are one of them, go back to driving school.

Hazard lights are there to alert other drivers of dangerous situations, like yesterday on the N2 when this truck was standing half way on the N2. But how to realise it's actually a dangerous situation if everybody has the hazards switched on already?!? So oncoming traffic was not alert in time, visibility 30-50 metres, we all were just lucky that no accident was caused.

So people, PLEASE STOP USING HAZARDS IN FOG!!!

Thats what hazard lights are for....... for higher visibility in more dangerous driving conditions. Its okay, not really ganna take driving instructions from you

 

[Anony-mousse]

Anony

I am with the others.
I regularly tow a speed boat up that way & am quite happy to be exposed to hazard lights in thick fog.
The only reason I can see someone getting upset, is if they are trying to drive too fast for prevailing conditions & get frustrated & confused by all the christmas trees.
Unfortunately, with the fog lights, there will be those that will then also complain about drivers who have forgotten to switch fog lights off again. (and of course I would not be pointing fingers here)

Theewaterskloof?

 

[Anony-mousse]

Thats what hazard lights are for....... for higher visibility in more dangerous driving conditions. Its okay, not really ganna take driving instructions from you

Lol, you are so wrong, back to driving school, haha

 

[w1z4rd]

Lol, you are so wrong, back to driving school, haha

No thanks, Ill keep my car and my family safer and use hazards

 

[DJ...]

Lol, you are so wrong, back to driving school, haha

Your solution involves stationary vehicles in fog. All because you don't like hazards being used. Do you not see the logical disconnect here?

 

[Zenbaas]

No thanks, Ill keep my car and my family safer and use hazards

Yup.

 

[Anony-mousse]

Since you mentioned it... Do they teach you that in driving school?

I know you get a night rating ( which I've done ) and an instrument rating for planes, but didn't know about the driving versions.

I really wouldn't know, but to be honest I don't think they are teaching it because fog is probably not as common in SA as e.g. in Austria, where I did my license.

 

[w1z4rd]

Lol, apparently the mouse has a point

Don't use your emergency flasher. Studies have shown that drivers are attracted to flashing lights and tend to drive into them inadvertently. -

http://www.arrivealive.co.za/pages.aspx?i=2936#sthash.eyHxgGf8.dpuf

 

[MKFrost]

So every time I'm driving over Sir Lowry's Pass...

Yup went through there twice yesterday...... and yes had all hazards blazing away........

I get what you are saying but in fog that dense you have to make yourself more visible as there are still idiots trying to break the land speed record through that fog.

In regards to knowing when there is a real hazard in such conditions.... when everything comes to a standstill....

 

[DJ...]

We drive into things that flash? Was their sample group made up of adhd patients or are they referring to a different kind of flashing?

 

[Anony-mousse]

Okay, it seems I have to rephrase here:

My request to stop using hazards is now limited to all drivers of cars equipped with fog lights. Fog lights are much more visible than hazards, so no reason to use the hazards, agreed?

And I do agree that drivers of old cars with weak tail lights and no fog lights should try make themselves more visible, hence warn other drivers by switching on hazards.

Is it clearer now?