00:00You've probably seen it, a car in heavy snow or rain with hazards flashing, but is it really
00:08safer? AAA says those lights can actually create new risks. Hazard lights were designed for
00:13emergencies and mainly when a vehicle is stopped, but more drivers now use them while moving in
00:18heavy weather because flashing lights grab attention fast. The human eye is attracted
00:23to movement. So when we have that flashing going on, that's even more likely to gain the attention
00:30of another road user. But in heavy snow or blinding rain, hazards can cause drivers to steer toward
00:35the flashing lights without even realizing it. People tend to drive where their eyes are looking.
00:40You don't want them driving toward you when you're hazard flashing. Hazards also interfere with your
00:45ability to signal lane changes. It overrides your ability to signal whether you're going to move
00:51left or right. You can't let other drivers know, okay, I want to change lanes to the left,
00:56exit to the right. Hazards may also give drivers a false sense of security. Drivers might feel more
01:01comfortable. Maybe you shouldn't be out on the road at all then. Maybe it's actually better to go ahead
01:05and move off. There's no additional traction on their tires. The hazard flashers don't affect that.
01:11Because most drivers associate hazards with a stopped vehicle, a moving car with flashers can be
01:15confusing, especially in whiteouts or tropical downpours. They could sometimes even be hard
01:20to determine that a vehicle with its hazard lights on is moving. When you first see it,
01:26it might look stopped. AAA recommends using hazard lights only during a true emergency
01:31and usually when you're stopped. Depending on where you live, using hazards may even be illegal.
01:36Make sure you check before traveling. States like California, Pennsylvania, and New York don't allow
01:41moving vehicles to use hazards at all, even in snow or heavy rain. Meanwhile, states such as Texas and
01:47the Carolinas allow hazard light use only in specific conditions like poor visibility, slow moving traffic,
01:52or other emergency situations. Bottom line, hazard lights can help you be seen, but they can also
01:58create new dangers. If you're thinking about using them while driving, ask yourself, is this helping
02:03or is it a sign to pull over? For AccuWeather, I'm meteorologist Tony Laubach.
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