Reduced Visibility

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by striker, Sep 29, 2017.

  1. misterG

    misterG Road Train Member

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    I will use my hazard lights as I see fit. If others can't handle that, your problem not mine.

    Mostly I use them as I pull into traffic from side roads (into high speed situations), as where I operate there are several intersecting roads that do not offer merge lanes. You get to pull into traffic and accelerate as fast as possible. So here I use them to represent that I'm a slow moving vehicle and when I get to a "safe" speed I turn them off.
    I will also use them to warn others that there is a slow moving vehicle ahead. Such as when I'm blocking the view of stopped traffic or large farm equipment that is taking up traffic lanes and cannot be passed as yet.
    I use them as they were intended, I believe. To warn others of slow/stopped traffic.
     
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  3. pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    In real dense fog heavy rain and white out conditions I'll use my 4 ways not because I'm going slow but so others knows there is a vehicle ahead of them.
     
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  4. striker

    striker Road Train Member

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    Interesting take. When I was in CDL school, our final day of road training before testing. Three trucks, 3 instructors, 9 students. Headed up US 285 W. of Denver. Bright sunny day, not a cloud around. We went as far as the top of Kenosha Pass before turning back, stopped lunch, the instructors bought. When we left the diner, I was in the lead truck, the other two trucks had the smokers, so they had to take a smoke break before leaving, we had a 20 minute head start on them. About half way, we hit fog so thick, visibility for a good portion was 5' off the hood ornament. I was the unlucky student that was driving. The other two yahoos fell asleep in the chairs in the sleeper, so it was me and the instructor. For 8 miles, we crawled, maybe 10 mph tops, twice we almost rearended other vehicles that were also crawling slower than us, except, we had our lights and hazards on, they had no lights on at all, the instructor and I basically had our noses pressed to the windshield trying to see. By time we cleared that fog, there were at least 2 dozen cars behind me, all had their hazards on, probably only a couple of times could I actually see a glimpse of them in my mirrors. The instructor had me pull over and stop so we could both release some tension. IIRC, he had 20 yrs exp., said that was some of the thickest fog he had ever driven in. The screwiest part of that fog, those other two trucks hit a tiny little patch of it, maybe 100' of it. The two guys who were in my truck, slept through all of the fog.
     
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  5. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

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    It's not like anyone will see it from behind anyway once the trailer tails deploy. :laughing6:
     
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  6. Muddydog79

    Muddydog79 Heavy Load Member

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  7. IluvCATS

    IluvCATS Road Train Member

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    4-way usage during rain, fog, and slow driving a trait of courteous behavior good citizenship.
     
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  8. misterG

    misterG Road Train Member

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    What is worse, then ill timed use of Hazard lights?
    Is the lack of use of ANY kind of lights during reduced visibility situations (almost exclusively 4 wheelers).
    I have only once seen a LEO pull anyone over for this, nor do I ever see them pull anyone over for failing to use BLINKERS either. Its as if they are invisible violations.
     
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