The hazard lights can also turn off your turn signals. This makes it even more confusing if you`re trying to cross multiple lanes and stop on the emergency lane. While penalties can vary depending on the county you`re in, you can usually face a $100 fine if you drive your car with hazard lights on. For years, state traffic officials have used social media, media and FDOT forums to remind drivers not to use these flashing lights in the rain. It has not always been followed. REMINDER – Florida law requires motorists to turn on their headlights when it rains. The goal is to make it easier for others to see you in poor visibility If you`ve driven in Florida, you`ve been driving in a heavy rainstorm. These seem to come out of nowhere, with little warning, and can reduce unlimited visibility to zero in seconds. What should you do? So what should you do if the rain starts raining? Wysocky advises drivers to turn on their headlights and windshield wipers and pay close attention to their surroundings. PREVIOUS REPORT: Driving with hazard lights in Florida is illegal The next time you enter a torrential downpour or have a flat tire, your first instinct will probably be to turn on the car`s hazard lights and drive on the side of the road. And it`s completely legal, but only in certain states. Other states have exceptions to the rules that only allow hazard warning lights in certain circumstances. Unfortunately, many drivers still believe they can drive the way they want or park wherever they want as long as they turn on their turn signals.
This is not only frustrating for other drivers and illegal, but also potentially dangerous. Therefore, turn signals should never be used to preemptively warn others of your reckless driving unless you encounter one of the following legal dangerous situations. The legal and safe use of hazards includes: FHP offered the following advice to drivers traveling in inclement weather: Here are the states where it is illegal to drive with hazard lights on: Here is a list of each state`s rules regarding the conduct of hazard lights, according to AAA: We must admit that we were not aware that driving with flashing lights was illegal. It seems counterintuitive that this would make driving more dangerous. As usual, be careful when driving in such dangerous conditions, and if they are so extreme, stop until conditions improve. While this can be very annoying, it may be better than the alternative. Florida now joins more than 40 other states that allow drivers to use hazard lights when driving in certain situations, according to AAA. Learn about the use of hazard lights to avoid frustrating situations and keep your family safe and avoid tickets. Simply click on the Facebook, Twitter or Google Plus icons to instantly share this page with your friends and family.
A simple click can help keep our roads clear and keep your loved ones safe and safe from the frenzy of the street. Please share now. Just two days before the new law went into effect, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a 38-page transportation bill hiding the changes in the middle of the bill. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Sunshine State law no longer prohibits driving with flashing hazard lights on certain roads during certain extreme weather conditions. This law came into force on Thursday, July 1. Specifically, drivers can press this triangle button to activate flashing lights when conditions produce “extremely poor visibility” on roads where speed limits are at or above 55 miles per hour. These weather conditions include heavy rain, fog or smoke.
Should you be angry or overreact? He has his turn signals on, so is he right? They have always believed that hazards should be used in dangerous situations. Is it a dangerous situation to drop off a cheerleading group so you don`t have to go too far? “You might think they`re doing everyone a favor, but in reality, they`re confusing,” Wysoky said, explaining that in some cars, the bulbs on the hazard lights may be the same as those on your brake lights or turn signals. “People might think you`re being stopped on the road.” Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a transportation bill that allows drivers to use their hazard lights on the road. Florida drivers are allowed to use hazard lights on roads with speed limits equal to or greater than 55 miles per hour if conditions create “extremely poor visibility.” After a rainy week, Tampa Police Department Officer Roy reminds everyone that it`s illegal to drive in Florida with your hazard lights on. Windshield wipers and headlights should always be on when it`s raining in Florida. Under the previous law, hazard lights were only provided if your car broke down or stopped on the side of the road. The only time it can be used while driving your vehicle is when you are in a funeral procession. This would then be a signal to other drivers not to drive between the two or to disrupt the movement. In addition, hazard lights “turn off your ability to use your turn signals,” a Georgia police department wrote in a Facebook post in January. However, as in many other circumstances, Florida was an exception.
Only 10 states prohibit the use of hazard lights while driving, according to the AAA. This Act will be amended with effect from 1 July 2021. The new law will allow Florida drivers to use hazard lights on roads with speed limits of 55 miles per hour or more when conditions create “extremely poor visibility.” This seems to include rainy or foggy conditions that we all experience regularly. Before July 1, if a driver in Florida turned on his hazard lights — even during a downpour — he was driving illegally. Public safety officials emphasized that hazard warning lights are for vehicles that are stopped or deactivated on the roadway or on the emergency lane. They are a sign of emergency services or that the driver needs help. According to these officials, hazard lights can interfere with visibility, leading other drivers to think you`re stopped or stranded. They make it difficult to tell if motorists are pressing the brakes and they do not allow you to use your turn signals.