Using hazard lights to thank another driver??

I see it done a lot. I prefer it to being blinded by the flash of oncoming high beams, like I got from someone today. I don't know if there's a rule about it.

I thought hazard lights were for when you were parked in a stupid place, such as on double yellows, as the use of them excuses you from the rules of the road.

Should never be used on a vehicle in motion.

You shouldn't actually 'thank' another driver ever, by any means.

A driver let me out at a junction this evening, I flashed my hazards, and another car pulled out in front of me, out of another junction, and I went into the side of her. I tried to stop, but I couldn't. She claimed I was indicating to go left, but I know for a fact that I had just flashed my hazards, and was not indicating to go left or right, as I was intending on driving straight on.

I'm sure using your hazard or flashing your lights goes against the highway code (rusty though as i've been driving for 16 years), but I see it as an acceptable way of thanking another driver.

A bus driver flashed his hazard lights at me this evening for letting him out a bus stop.

I started to notice it more when we started towing the caravan. Lorry drivers would flash their lights when we had overtaken them to let us know we were a safe distance to return to the slow lane. H drives, so it's my job to quickly flash the hazards to acknowledge thanks.

Definitely shouldn't do it - it's not a Highway Code approved use of hazard warning lights! I find it quite common in recent years from trucks if you slow down to let them pull back in front of you.

The last time I used mine 'in motion' was after undertaking a car on a 70mph dual carriageway who was doing 45mph for several miles in the outside lane, and weaving slightly into the inside lane. I'm not a fan of undertaking - though plenty of other cars went ahead - but I'm especially not keen on undertaking muppet who have no idea of appropriate speed, lane discipline or even keeping wholly to one lane. So they got a flick of the hazards in an attempt to say 'hazard - you are creating one - THINK'.

Maybe they just thought I was saying 'thanks'? ?

I've never seen anyone do it myself, and would be very confused if I did.

I hope neither of you were hurt. She shouldn't have pulled out unless she was certain you were making the manoeuvre she thought was indicated - i.e. observed you pulling to left, slowing down etc.

I'm not surprised that she thought you were turning left though. If there was no right turn, she'd probably just have been looking at your left indicator to see if you were going left or continuing... and with your hazards, she would of course have seen a left indicator flashing.

I'm not sure whether you're asking the original question to find out whether it excuses you from insurance point of view? If so, then no - hazards aren't appropriately used that way - and even if they were, the onus would still have been on you to stop in time.

Strictly, no.

If she was approaching from the left, she wouldn't have been able to see that both lights were flashing either, just the left one.

Depending on what angle she was situated, she might have only seen the left indicator light rather than the fact that you used hazard lights. I suppose that's why we really shouldn't use them for anything other than alerting a hazard. Open to misinterpretation (likewise flashing lights).

Hope there wasn't too much damage?

That is what I normally do, but it was dark, so they wouldn't have seen it.

I'm not trying to excuse myself, I'm just trying to prepare myself [gulp]. If the other driver had used their judgement properly there is no way she should have judged that I was turning left, the speed I was going (within the limit) would not have allowed me to take the (tight) left hand turn safley. Especially as I was not indicating to turn left.

Actually, regardless of hazards, the person joining the main road from the side road will be held responsible. I was hit by a guy driving on the wrong side of the road, but I was held responsible because he was on the main road and I was joining it from a side road. I was told by my insurance company that on a perfectly straight road, when he could see me from a mile away, he could deliberately drive into the side of me and I would still be at fault.

No-one was injured, although my long term back injury is hurting more than usual. Her car has got a few scratches over her rear wheel arch, I need a new bumper and drivers side wing.

Ah fuck, I feel so shitty. I'm going to bed, thanks all.

Strangely enough, my brother wrote his car off tonight too........

?

Hope your brother is all right?

Don't feel crap, it was a mistake made with best intentions. No-one was hurt in your incident so just chunks of metal and insurance to sort out.

I have a fairly long commute daily and have done for 10 years. It's only fairly recently that I've seen hazards being used and I never would, it's too awkward to even find them when driving. I only ever use the flick your indicators from left to right occasionally but more often than not just a quick wave (sorry ONE).

I would still say she is at fault. AFAIK indicators are a signal of intent but you shouldn't use them as a definite, you should look for the vehicle slowing down and moving over as well.

Hope you are feeling ok. Tis the season for accidents ours was hit on Saturday but luckily we were all fine.

I do the quick left-right-left of indicators rather than using my hazards as a thank you to lorries and coaches who can't see a thank you wave in my mirror. It's something more commonly done by lorry and coach/bus drivers as they are often more aware of the need to be waved back into a lane when they're clear of the vehicle they are overtaking.

I started doing it when my dad started driving coaches as I became aware of the visual difficulties (ie blind spots, etc) that lorries and coaches have so often appreciate a thanks with the indicators.

As for the person who turned left because they "assumed" you were turning, they shouldn't have made a move until you started to turn also. Just because you're indicating it doesn't mean that person is going where you think they are until they actually turn. Hope you're ok though.

This has reminded me of a total bugbear of mine. Just because you have put your indicator on it doesn't mean you have right of way and that you can pull out in front of me. Argh! I hate this. I've been driving for just over a year and I have never know so many incompetent fcukwits to do this. It drives me potty. Indicate but check it is safe to manouvre before doing so. ggrrrr

Sorry RuthG. I hope you get it sorted out and your brother is OK.

My recent advanced driving instructer told me that a little wave is OK, but it should be with your left hand, and not your right. This is due to the fact that you are used to holding the steering wheel with your right hand only due to gear changes etc so the car will be more stable (so safer) than if you hold the steering wheel only with your left hand for a second or two....plus most people are right handed so they are keeping their stronger and more responsive arm on on the steering wheel - again for safety and stability.

(This only follows of course if you always keep both hands on the steering wheel at a "10 to 2" position )

While it's failry standard practice around here it isn't "right" though Iv'e done the indicator waving before or just waving for thanks.

I wonder if she more thought you were flashing at her to come out rather than indicating? In any case she should have proceeded with caution or not at all until she was certain of what you were doing (I think in my driving lessons we weren;t allowed to exit a junction by being flashed unless it was totally safe and the flasher was completely stationary). I think also had you hit into the back of her (ie she'd had time to pull fully into the road and you hadn't stopped) once she'd joined your road, you should have been able to to stop in time and thus would have been at fault. However if you hit the side of her it would possibly indicate you wouldn't have had the time to stop even if reacted very quickly so she would be at fault.

Are there any witnesses who can support that the body/car language of you wasn't going to be letting her out/turning off the road?

Hope you and your brother are ok ?