Using Flashers when climbing up a grade

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by Working Class Patriot, Sep 17, 2008.

  1. Working Class Patriot

    Working Class Patriot Road Train Member

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    The other day while on US 97 out of Weed, CA I was crawling up a grade about 30 mph and I had my flashers on to warn traffic. This Swift driver radios me and proceeds to tell me that it is illegal to use flashers for climbing grades and that the only time they can be used legally in CA are when you are parked. I told him that's the first I heard of that law. I have always used my flasher for climbing grades where I'm way slower than most traffic and for when I am coming up on a "Brake Check".
    The Swift driver told me that they had a class last week and that's where he learned of this law.
    Anyone know about this "Law"?
     
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  3. rookietrucker

    rookietrucker Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    I have never heard of that law. Most states require flashers on under 45mph, then again CA is a whole another story. I also would not believe what a swift driver told me either.........
     
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  4. Working Class Patriot

    Working Class Patriot Road Train Member

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    Exactly.
    Utah DOT will fine you on I-70 if you don't use your flashers. I have seen drivers pulled over for not using them.

    I'd do the research but I'm too beat from my run last week through today to do the homework. I'm just asking around since someone else may have first hand knowledge.
     
  5. abjz71

    abjz71 Light Load Member

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    ron you actual listened to a swift driver come on you should know better then that
     
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  6. Working Class Patriot

    Working Class Patriot Road Train Member

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    Yeah I know.... but you never know.
    Sometimes even "Swifty's" can things right. :biggrin_25525:
     
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  7. Working Class Patriot

    Working Class Patriot Road Train Member

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    Anymore i just act like I'm "just a driver" instead of letting people know I'm an O/O.
    It's more more fun playing that way sometimes. :biggrin_25517:
     
  8. tinglish

    tinglish Light Load Member

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    in california your emergency flashers are for a stopped, brokedown vehicles. or so i've been told.

    i personally quit using my flashers when i was climbing a grade a couple years ago.....i came up behind a wal-mart truck in the fog, he had his flashers on and it scared the #### out of me because i thought he was stopped in the road. (no i wasn't going too fast)
     
  9. pjw044

    pjw044 Heavy Load Member

    In California:
    CVC 25250 states:Flashing lights are prohibited on vehicles EXCEPT as
    otherwise permitted.....

    I have used this section of the CVC to have a ticket dismissed by a Judge
    as an acceptable use of this section when i owned my own towing co.
    The CHP who wrote the ticket WAS NOT a happy camper in court..

    CVC 25251(a)3 states:
    To warn other motorists of accidents or HAZARDS on a roadway, turn signal lamps may be flashed as warning lights while the vehicle is approaching, overtaking, or passing the accident or HAZARD on the roadway if the front turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side are being simultaneously flashed.........

    I argued that my Towtruck traveling at a much slower speed than the flow of traffic created a HAZARD as defined by the above CVC section. The Judge agreed with me over the objection of the CHP officer..
     
  10. Ken

    Ken Couch Commander

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    I just found this in California Commercial Driver Handbook 2008

    There were alot of places it says to use your flashers, including construction zones, accident scenes and when pulled to the side of the road. I couldn't find anywhere(didn't look to hard) where is explicitly prohibited the use of flashers.

    When operating any commercial vehicle, do not [FONT=Times,Times][FONT=Times,Times]ride the clutch, race the engine, change gears, [/FONT][/FONT]or coast while driving down the grade. At the [FONT=Times,Times][FONT=Times,Times]bottom of the grade, be sure to cancel your [/FONT][/FONT]4-way flashers.
     
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  11. Ken

    Ken Couch Commander

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    #### Jarhead used a different source...LOL
     
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