Hazard warning lights

DXP55 · 22 Jul 2018 at 17:27

Are there cars out there that if you slam brakes on the hazard lights come on - I was slowing down behind a few cars and looked in mirror and a Citroen was filling my rear view mirror with his hazards on. I opened my window and gave him a wave of sorts.

Also found out today that if you drive a BMW or Range Rover you are immune from getting done for speeding - I was on the D road and Uttoxeter road in Stoke on Trent - It also took me an hour to get from Uttoxeter road to traffic lights (Cellerhead) where you turn right for Kingsley Moor (that road with speed cameras every 500 yards)- I didn't really get to light's - was stopped outside that garage just before - Anyone know what caused the holdup.-- Ruined my day shooting as I was out of time getting there..

TheVoice · 22 Jul 2018 at 17:40

DXP55 said:
Are there cars out there that if you slam brakes on the hazard lights come on - I was slowing down behind a few cars and looked in mirror and a Citroen was filling my rear view mirror with his hazards on. I opened my window and gave him a wave of sorts.

Yep, I think most fairly new cars do this now, and many flash the brake lights rapidly too.

bremen1874 · 22 Jul 2018 at 18:15

But only if they really slam them on.

Dis86 · 22 Jul 2018 at 18:18

Pretty common.

Finglonga · 22 Jul 2018 at 18:20

My Golf does it and the last 2 BMW's did it but only when the ABS is on the verge of kicking in.

bremen1874 · 22 Jul 2018 at 18:30

They're there to tell other road users that you didn't leave a safe gap/weren't paying attention.

Hyburnate · 22 Jul 2018 at 18:47

Yuuuup, under heavy braking on most cars these days.

My Abarth does it when driving.... enthusiastically.

muon · 22 Jul 2018 at 18:49

Lots of cars if ABS is triggered.

UnworthyBean · 22 Jul 2018 at 20:08

Fairly sure mine flashes the brake lights if abs is triggered and then activates the hazards if I come to a stop. Oddly enough I've never been outside the car to find out for sure.

Semple · 22 Jul 2018 at 22:42

I think the VAG cars flash the brake lights if stopping very quickly.

Resident · 23 Jul 2018 at 03:33

As said it's a common 'new' feature of modern cars however I've experienced it driving a Citroen (Sister's DS3) and it does seem over-eager in it's activation

peterwalkley · 23 Jul 2018 at 09:00

Resident said:
As said it's a common 'new' feature of modern cars however I've experienced it driving a Citroen (Sister's DS3) and it does seem over-eager in it's activation

Probably not. Being French you never know when it's going to go on strike or start burning tyres in the middle of the road.

Joe T · 23 Jul 2018 at 09:04

I've never seen the hazards come on with heavy braking - a flashing of the brakes lights though? Yes, very common, as part of the ABS system.

Hazard lights are only supposed to be used when stationary I thought.

Freakbro · 23 Jul 2018 at 09:06

I came up with this idea back in 1989 after being involved in a motorway pileup (as a passenger), I called it the HIBS - High Intensity Braking System, to show the car behind that you are braking hard.

I did check online and there were already quite a few patents online about similar things, so I didn't do anything about it, so it's good to see it's come about, even if decades later.

Dis86 · 23 Jul 2018 at 09:07

Freakbro said:
I came up with this idea back in 1989 after being involved in a motorway pileup (as a passenger), I called it the HIBS - High Intensity Braking System, to show the car behind that you are braking hard.

I did check online and there were already quite a few patents online about similar things, so I didn't do anything about it, so it's good to see it's come about, even if decades later.

I had one to prevent aquaplaning but someone already had something sufficiently similar. I've never seen it in use though.

sovietspybob · 23 Jul 2018 at 09:07

In lots of episodes of top gear you see the hazards flashing when they're going round their test track, it's very common on newer (less than 10 year old) cars but only when the ABS is triggered so they'd need to be driving like a mental on the roads for you to ever witness it.

Joe T · 23 Jul 2018 at 09:07

Freakbro said:
I came up with this idea back in 1989 after being involved in a motorway pileup (as a passenger), I called it the HIBS - High Intensity Braking System, to show the car behind that you are braking hard.

I did check online and there were already quite a few patents online about similar things, so I didn't do anything about it, so it's good to see it's come about, even if decades later.

You didnt think brake lights flashing was enough then?

Freakbro · 23 Jul 2018 at 09:21

Joe T said:
You didnt think brake lights flashing was enough then?

My idea was for them to flash (or have a secondary different colour light) to indicate to the person behind you are braking hard. That didn't exist in 1989, hence the pile up happened as by the time you realise the person in front has slammed on, you have lost vital seconds of reaction time.

DXP55 · 23 Jul 2018 at 10:08

Found out what caused my delay in Stoke - wish I had known before hand could have gone the other way.

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/new.../delays-expected-monster-load-travels-1798534

Thanks for the heads up guys - that's first I have heard of hazards coming on when braking.

jpaul · 23 Jul 2018 at 12:13

so do hazards come on for emergency brake assist systems too ?
after earlier thread where someone had said this enaged on their mercedes and someone went into the back of them (and potentially the mercedes' fault since practically a brake test manouver)