Hazard flashers while riding

Did several searches for this and did not find anything...

While in France, I noticed riders using their hazard flashers in heavy traffic. It made me take more notice than I usually do.

What do y'all think of doing it in the U.S.? Not really interested in its legality - more its effectiveness at getting a bike noticed from behind.




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I have not seen many bikes with hazard flashers fitted.

Legal requirement to have hazards on all bikes in Europe, just like DRL. Hazards are used in heavy braking on highways to alert those behind that the vehicles ahead have come to a stop. Not entirely sure if the OP meant that or the French are doing it whilst filtering....

Bike or cage, I turn mine on when I'm stopped at road construction or unexpectedly in heavy traffic or any "hazard" situation until I'm sure there are a couple vehicles behind me that are clued in.

More with the bike than a cage, I worry about target fixation from behind...

I've seen it done in heavy fast-paced traffic which suddenly slows in MA. A few people put their hazards on as they brake hard to indicate we're about to go from 70 to 0 in 3 feet. It seems useful - but I think it's important they turn them off once we're rolling again. You need turn signals to still be obvious indicators.

Personally, I don't do it because I'm busy modulating the brake, one eye ahead and one eye in the mirror. That takes enough attention, forget reaching for a button. It'd be cool if a deceleration sensor did it for me though.

This is my first bike with hazards.

Yes, from what I could tell they were doing it while filtering in heavy traffic on the highway. Didn't see it on city streets.

They were not turning it on and off - would just leave it on


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Hello from France !
Cars use hazards for heavy braking. It's even automatic on some cars.
Bikes use hazards while filtering and lane splitting. It's not required by law but the idea is to get more visibility.
Most people do it, especially on the periphérique (ring road) around Paris.

In the UK it's used for heavy/unexpected braking - but not for filtering.

I've seen it pretty commonly in a few southern US states in heavy rain as well.
Seems smart, but I'm a yank so what do I know.
Where I come from it seems like the general rule for drivers is, floor it and hope for the best.

Most newer Harleys have 4-way flashers.

Here's a List-o-Laws for flasher use in the US.


http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/laws/hazard-light-use/

The main use for hazards in the UK is for inconsiderate parking. That's why they're known as "park anywhere lights".

It's like that here in the States, too.

"I'll just pull into this NO PARKING spot, but I'll put my flashers on and it'll be okay."

The Patriot Guard Riders use emergency flashers on escort missions. FYI, almost any bike with turn signals can have 4 way flashers. All you need is a SPDT switch. The switch can be a weather proof on/off toggle or a push on - push off switch. When the switch is in the on position, it should be wired to connect both left and right turn signal circuits together. On European bikes wired to DIN standards, the turn signal color codes are Blue/Black and Blue/Red. When the new 4 way flasher switch is on, activating either left or right turn signals will flash all four turn signals. Prior to installation and wiring the switch, a temporary jumper can be clipped in to make sure your flasher circuit can handle 4 way load.

To preempt the habitual critics, the downsides are:
1) it may not work on bikes with marginal flashers
2) The 4 way mode may flash twice as fast as the normal blinker
3) You have to remember to turn the 4 way switch off for normal blinker operation.
4) if you forget #3 and also forget to ride as if you were invisible, a selfish and aggressive cage driver might get confused and run over you.

Thanks for the opinions everyone. I think I will try it in the horrible Wa traffic. Anything to help with the horrible Wa drivers


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I always think this is pretty stupid. Even more stupid when they make lane changes with hazards on - because now you have no clue what they are going to do. It is a good way to ensure other drivers know you're slowing due to the rain but they tend to leave them on. After a few seconds I'm saying to myself "yeah... it's raining... I noticed already so turn the fockin' things off will you!"

On the bike, I don't think I've ever used hazards while riding and I'd be worried someone was going to see the light on one side only and think I was signaling a turn.

Well, do be honest about your opinion :)

The interesting thing is that you saw them. Maybe the learning here is that if you ride with the hazards you should also give hand signals...which come to think of it was what I saw people doing in France.


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" I always think this is pretty stupid "

using hazards in very heavy rain is not stupid at all. There is a real risk of getting rear-ended by another vehicle. The MC's single rear light, or even the whole bike, are not very noticeable, when the rear wheel picks up the water from the road and makes a 'curtain' behind the MC.

Two other legitimate uses are an accident scene, or heavy traffic suddenly slowing down (used only briefly then).

The ONLY legitimate uses IMO. BTW, you DO know that using hazards while you're moving is illegal, right? ...and there's a reason for that.

If you use the hazards briefly when heavy rain starts, ok - After that, people already know you're there. I was thinking about cars anyway. I've never seen a bike riding in rain with hazards on. It would make MORE sense than it does in a car but still only in the most extreme conditions.

I´ve been through a few tropical thunderstorms, so I can tell first-hand, that everyone´s visibility will be very severely limited, when there is enough water on the road to build a proper ´spray´ behind every vehicle. The bike disappears from view in those conditions so easily, that it is actually scary. Another problem is, that most people slow right down, as they should, but not everybody, some are stupid enough to just keep going at the same speed as dry, even though they practically do not see the road ahead.. So yes, I will use every means possible to make myself more visible to others in such conditions. Doesnt mean I turn them on every time it rains, though.

I have a K7 Vstrom 650 which is the first time I've had the hazard availability on a motorcycle. While coming down I77 through Fancy Gap (the big mountain descent from VA into NC) the fog was so thick you couldn't see more than 15-20 yards in front of you. I turned my hazards on so I was more visible. It seemed to help and I was surprised that some cars behind me did the same thing. After I passed a semi he turned his on also. You can see hazard lights and brake lights since they are brighter than tail lights when in thick fog. I learned this lesson a few years ago after almost rear ending a tractor trailer in my car because you couldn't see anything on the rear of his trailer due to fog. Missed him by a few inches. Really glad I have that feature on the Wee Strom now.