When all four of your turn signals are blinking, what do you call that?

[racinchikki]

Fourways?
Hazard lights?
Flashers?

I ask because my default term is "fourways." I used this term at work and was met with blank stares until I said "Y'know, when you pull that button on the steering column and all four of your blinkers come on. Hazard lights." And then everybody's eyes lit up and they said "Yeah, your flashers!"

I am from New York, but learned my automotive lingo from my dad, who is a trucker (so I use some strange terms that aren't in the general automotive lexicon, although of course I can't think of any right now). They are all from Texas. So I was wondering whether the fourways/flashers/hazards thing was regional, trucker/everybody else, or just randomly dispersed.

[zweisamkeit]

Born and raised in the Detroit area, and we call them "flashers".

Then again, we call turn signals "blinkers", so make of that what you will.

[El_Kabong]

Four-way flashers, in PA, where I'm originally from, and in east Texas, apparently.

[racinchikki]

I call turn signals "blinkers," too.

And in East Texas, they are not "four-way flashers," they are simply "flashers." The term "four-way" flummoxed them completely. You'd have thought I'd said something about weasel-grommets.

[friedo]

I call them all "blinkers" and derive the specific meaning from context.

Related anecdote: Once my friend thought his left blinker was broken, so he asked me to get out and check. "OK, turn it on," says I.

"It's working! No, it's broken. Oh, it's working again! No, it broke again."




(It took him about a minute to get it.)

[Loopus]

I'm from the Houston area, and I don't think I've ever heard the term "flashers" used that way. I call them "blinkers" or "hazards." "Hazards" seems to be most common.

It's possible I've heard the term "flashers" and not noticed or forgotten, I guess.

I've definitely never heard the term "fourways" though.

[Mehitabel]

Also from NYC, we call 'em four-ways. I had occasion to put them on yesterday, as it happens, as part of a funeral procession on Long Island for one of my Mom's oldest friends.

I lived in Boston half my life and heard them called four-ways and/or blinkers, but the former was a little more common. And I think most NYers would understand what you meant by blinkers too.

[yosemite]

I'm from Southern California (for most of my life, anyway) and I would call all four lights flashing at the same time to be "hazard lights." As for the right or left turn signals, I usually call them, well, "turn signals." I sometimes call them "blinkers," but to be honest, mostly it's "turn signal" or "signal."

[AbbySthrnAccent]

Born and raised in Texas, I've always heard them called "hazard lights" when they are all on at once and "turn signals" or "blinkers" for turning or to signal a lane change.

[SolGrundy]

I'm from Georgia, originally. I've never heard them called anything other than "hazards."

[Hal Briston]

Turn signals are "blinkers". Hazard lights are "hazards".

[Salem]

I've always referred to them, and heard them referred to as "hazards" or "hazard lights". Turn signals are more commonly called "blinkers", but I've heard "turn signals" as well. Never heard the term "Four-ways". I'm a Massachusetts girl, born and bred.

[silenus]

"Hazard lights" and "Turn signals."

California born and bred.

[The Great Sun Jester]

Originally Posted by racinchikki

weasel-grommets.

I am paralised with laughter.

better now...
Like yosemite & silenus said. All 4 is Hazard lights, one side or t'other is turn signals. Could be a regional (Left Coast) thing. I learned to drive in Seattle (yeah yeah, back when the cars actually moved and the drivers actually used turn signals).

I am quite frankly surprised that "Flasher" has currency on the East Coast to mean anything other than a guy in a trench coat.

[saramamalana]

Originally Posted by Hal Briston

Turn signals are "blinkers". Hazard lights are "hazards".

I use the same terminology. I'm Long Island born and raised. Which makes me question Mehitabel's saying that people call them "four-ways." I've never heard that!

[Eliahna]

I call them 'hazards' or 'hazard lights'.

Turn signals are blinkers or indicators.

[35340]

hazards, blinkers for all of them

turn signal and indicators for selective specific use of one or the other

[Hunter Hawk]

NJ native here.

When all four are on, they're "hazard lights" or "hazards". I'd understand what you meant if you said "flashers". I'd gape at you in slack-jawed befuddlement if you used the term "four-ways".

When signaling a lane change, they're "turn signals". I'd understand what you meant if you used the term "blinker", though it'd take me a moment to figure it out. I'd be confused at the term "indicator", since to me that term is more general than a turn signal (e.g., one of the lights that turns on in your dashboard to show that something's wrong could also be referred to as an "indicator light"). "Blinker" is only used when the light is used as a turn signal, not when all four are on.

[Kkrose]

Northern California, born and raised. I have always called them turn signals or blinkers.

All four, I call "Emergency Blinkers." I am not sure if I came up with that on my own though, since no one else seems to use that phrase.

[Ruby]

Northern Indiana checking in.

They are "fourways". Technically they're "hazard lights" but the most common term here is "fourways".

[chique]

I *think* turn signals and blinkers are used interchangably here in Minnesota. At least, I know that blinker = turn signal and vice versa.

The funky button that lets people know your car is broke turns on one's hazards.

[LSLGuy]

Here in the MidWest we call 'em weasel grommets.

[kittenblue]

Ohio here...turn signals or blinkers, and hazard lights. Isn't a fourway a type of Cincinnati Chili?

[35340]

indicator - picked that up from work, where my peer group weighs heavily towards Brits and Canadians.

[twickster]

"Flashers," though I'd understand "hazards."

Turn signals.

Philly girl, primarily, though I did live in Southern California during my late teens and early 20s, and that's where I learned to drive.

[Green Bean]

Originally Posted by saramamalana

I use the same terminology. I'm Long Island born and raised. Which makes me question Mehitabel's saying that people call them "four-ways." I've never heard that!

Interesting...I, too, was born and bred on Long Island, and the term was always "four-way flashers." Never just "four-ways." And definitely never just "flashers!" (I imagine 4 guys in trench coats, one on each corner of the car, opening their trench coats in unison over and over...)

Could be a regional thing , even within Long Island. Those folks over on the east end do have some peculiar habits....

I've lived in Jersey for 10 years now (!) and since switched to calling them hazards.

I think I say "blinker" more often than "turn signal," though I'm not really sure.

[Small Clanger]

Brit checking in.

Originally Posted by Mynn

indicator - picked that up from work, where my peer group weighs heavily towards Brits and Canadians.

"Indicators" when used one one side to indicate a turn or lane change, "hazards" when flashing all four, legally only supposed to be used when broken down, but also used as:

Magic "I can park anywhere I damn like" lights. Typically used by white-van-man to block bus or cycle lanes.

(Flashing) Hazard lights have also been unofficially* adopted over here to signal "stopped traffic ahead" on motorways allowing drivers behind you to slow down in plenty of time coming up to a jam.

*I'm assuming this is not in the highway code, but I passed my test mumblymum years ago so maybe now it's kosher?

[Mr. Blue Sky]

SE Georgia, here: hazard lights

[FilmGeek]

Kansas City and St Louis.

Hazards and signals or blinkers (used interchangably)

[Morelin]

Originally Posted by saramamalana

I use the same terminology. I'm Long Island born and raised. Which makes me question Mehitabel's saying that people call them "four-ways." I've never heard that!

Yeah, I'm from the Island and called them hazards. Never heard of four-ways.

[Lsura]

Born & raised in East TN, and they're "hazard lights" to me, hazards for short.


Blinkers are turn signals.

[Antigen]

Montrealer checking in.

When I want to use the "correct" term, I say "hazard lights".

Casually, they're "hazards". "Flashers" is reserved for the turn signals.

I've never heard anyone use "fourway" before.

[Early Out]

Originally Posted by Antigen

"Flashers" is reserved for the turn signals.

That would really confuse folks here in Sector R, where turn signals are "blinkers," and the hazard lights are "flashers."

The only meaning I can assign to a "four-way" has to do with an adventuresome Saturday night, three complete strangers, and a plethora of permutations and combinations. Adult audiences only.

[elfkin477]

They're hazard lights" . I'd understand flashers, but fourways would make me think of stop signs (or something not g-rated) and completely confuse me. Also, the only people I've ever heard say blinkers instead of turn signals are elderly people. Maybe it was once a more universally common term?

[MaddyStrut]

All four: "Flashers," though I'd understand "hazards." Never heard "four ways" which is funny because Ruby has, and I grew up around Indianapolis (though I'm in MD now).

One at a time: "Turn signals." I've heard "blinkers" but it always sounds too cutesy for me to use. Only heard "indicators" in the UK. If you were British, I'd probably understand. If you were a yank, I'd likely think you meant the oil light or something.

[Thudlow Boink]

"Hazards" here in central Illinois. Never ever heard "four-ways" used for this; if you mentioned "fourways" I'd think you were talking about stop signs, or maybe your sex life.

[jsgoddess]

Originally Posted by kittenblue

Ohio here...turn signals or blinkers, and hazard lights. Isn't a fourway a type of Cincinnati Chili?

Yes, but go for the five way. You know you want to!

Also Ohio. Turn signals and hazards.

Or, when I'm driving and trying desperately to find the button to turn on the hazards, they are "the goddamn lights that'll keep some jackass from rear-ending me" but that's just because the Jeep's button is in a stupid place (above the radio).

[1010011010]

They growed me up in Nashville... it's "Hazard Lights" for all four, and "blinkers" or "turn signal" otherwise.

[angelicate]

I'm from South Texas.
Hazard lights when they're all going, blinkers or left/right turn signal when you want to indicate that you'll be turning soon. Mostly blinkers, though.

[Fish]

I learned to drive in Washington state. I've always called them hazard lights. Of course, I also call my turn signal by the complicated and arcane terminology "my turn signal."

For some reason, I don't like cutesy colloquialisms. I don't say soda or pop; I say "soft drink." I don't say leave a message on my machine, I say "voice mail."

A VW Beetle, however, is and will always be a "bug."

[generica]

I always refer to them as "Sorry Lights".

(I'm Vancouver Island [BC] raised, with Californian parents, FWIW.)

[Lobsang]

UK. I call em "fuzwazzles"






(Joking. I call em Hazard lights)

[Mahaloth]

Originally Posted by zweisamkeit

Born and raised in the Detroit area, and we call them "flashers".

Then again, we call turn signals "blinkers", so make of that what you will.

I'm also from the Detroit area, but call them "hazards". It used to say, "H" on the knob that turned them on. I thought this stood for "hazards".

[saramamalana]

Originally Posted by Green Bean

Could be a regional thing , even within Long Island. Those folks over on the east end do have some peculiar habits....

Well, FWIW, I'm from southwest Nassau, so I'm with you on thinking those east enders are strange folk.

I think I'm going to start polling my friends to see what terminology they use.

Does anyone use "ticker" for blinker? Someone I knew used that word, and we all found it rather odd.

[Morelin]

Originally Posted by saramamalana

Well, FWIW, I'm from southwest Nassau, so I'm with you on thinking those east enders are strange folk.

I lived just over the Suffolk border. Near Amityville.