There’s no shortage of these kinds of drivers on the road, especially when it rains hard. We are, of course talking about those who turn on their hazard lights when the weather becomes a little wetter. We’ve mentioned it time and time again that you shouldn’t do that, but there’s still way too many instances of these on the road.
However, there is a country that wants to do something about it. Sadly, it’s not the Philippines, but rather, it’s our neighbours in Malaysia. So, what’s their strategy to curb hazard users in the rain? Remind its road users that it's illegal.
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The Royal Malaysia Police has made it clear that hazards should (and absolutely should) only be used in emergencies. And no, rushing to the office does not count as an emergency.
Aside from rain, the Royal Malaysia Police also pointed out several instances that should not constitute the use of hazards while driving. These include wedding convoys, funeral convoys, makeshift towing, and group drives or rides. Sound familiar?
“The use of hazard lights on a moving vehicle will confuse other road users especially in heavy rain. In these conditions, it is difficult to see if a vehicle is stopped or is moving, and makes it very dangerous if a vehicle that is thought to be moving, turns out to have broken down or been stranded in the middle of the road,” said Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri, director of Bukit Aman traffic investigation and enforcement (JSPT).
For those asking, how does one make themselves more visible in the rain without using hazard lights? The solution is simple: Turn on your headlights to activate the tail lights. That’s all there is to it. If your car is equipped with rear fog lights, it’s worth flipping those on when the rain gets even heavier. And if you find it extremely difficult to drive in harsh conditions, it’s best to find a safe spot and wait out the weather.
