I got a flat tire the other day and I had to drive on the turnpike on a spare. The max you’re supposed to go is 50 on it. For the most part, the turnpike is 4 lanes, but there are also parts that are only 2 lanes. The speed limit for much of it is 70 and the rest is 60. The minimum speed is 40.
I drove in the right lane with my flashers on- it was VERY heavy traffic and before I did this people were driving RIGHT up onto my ass then realizing I was driving slow and getting stuck and frustrated. After I turned on my flashers, I noticed people way back getting over and going around me, then getting back in the lane after they passed. No one looked pissed off or anything. Things went well.
I’m not sure exactly why, but my husband said I shouldn’t put my hazzards on for going at that speed. I realize your signals don’t work when you have them on, so if I changed lanes, I turned them off for a second, signaled my change, then resumed using them.
When I was at the part where the speed limit was 60 and the traffic tapered off, I stopped using them.
What would you have done? Do you think I did the right thing? (and no, I couldn’t get a new tire before the trip, I had to drive it that way. It was a brand new good spare and drove fine).
I don’t know if there are any laws about driving with your flashers on, but it seems to me, you were a hazard of sorts and it made sense to have them flashing. I’d have appreciated the early warning so I could go around you.
I have used them for that purpose and I am sure the police would understand if they wanted to stop you. It is an infraction in most states but I think the added safety is worth it. I also know that most people pay better attention to a vehicle with them on and I fail to see much downside other than an unlikely ticket.
Is it actually an infraction to drive with your hazzards on? In addition to being good for turning on if you’re stuck on the side of the road, it seems a good way to indicate “Hey, I’m not running at 100% here- be careful”.
I had no idea it was an infraction. I could have actually gone a different route, but it seriously would have added about another 1.5 hours to my drive and I’d spent the entire day moving. I thought I was OK driving with them on.
I use my hazards in any situation where I am doing something that might come as a surprise to another driver - like driving less than the expected speed. I think you did the correct thing.
I have never heard that it was against the law anywhere. That doesn’t mean it isn’t, but I have never heard of it.
Neither had I- I wasn’t AS concerned where it was a speed limit of 60 (although I was still concerned) but believe me, where the limit was 70 people were doing 85+ easily. I was worried about getting ass ended from someone that was just going with the flow and didn’t pay attention for a split second- they were coming up on me FAST.
I’ve seen signs on highways stating use flashers under X mph, where X was some speed lower then the speed limit - I don’t think it would be illegal. In fact you can get a ticket for driving too slow, so using your flashers would be a way to warn driver of this and may get you out of a ticket for driving too slow.
To me it sounds like you did the right thing in using them.
I’ve seen trucks doing that frequently, on the long uphill grades. I agree that you were right to use your hazards. Anything that helps other drivers to know that you are a hazard can only be a good thing, regardless of what a law I’ve never heard of might say.
P.S. I fixed the thread title.
I had been taught to only use them when stopped, but your use sounds reasonable. However, if your vehicle is somehow impaired, I think you shouldn’t take highways if a local alternative is viable.
I had a similar flat tire several weeks ago, and my spare was dangerously low on air, so I turned on the flashers and drove slowly off the freeway. Even if it were an infraction, I don’t mind getting a ticket if it’ll keep people from rear-ending me.