The emergency flasher button on the recent models is a physical button. It's a waste of a physical button for a function that is almost never used.

#YouCanNeverPleaseEverybody

 

The emergency flasher button on the recent models is a physical button. It's a waste of a physical button for a function that is almost never used.

#YouCanNeverPleaseEverybody

It's actually a law to have a physical hazard button in cars.

571.108--HELP System--Powers | NHTSA

 

I observed in Mexico that drivers use the flashers anytime a significant change occurs in traffic behavior, not just if there was an emergency or hazard. It's an approach that I've since adopted and a physical flasher button makes it much more viable.

 

Germany has had either a law or just common practice for decades that whenever the lane clogs up or at least the speed drops significantly, the last car hits emergency blinkers.

On an autobahn where the speed limit may be 160km/h (100mph), higher or even ”no speed limit”, it’s really crucial to be aware that you need to slow down now. Come in at 120mph and suddenly traffic is 50mph… Fun. As is driving 110mph and having someone flash their lights to tell you to move over as you are too slow.

Our country just changed the law to allow the use of emergency blinkers in other circumstances than en emergency/accident.

 

When German drivers are flashing their lights it means you need to move over to the right lane because, if you are not passing someone, you don't belong there. If traffic is heavy and you, as well as the others in front of you, are not able to move back to the right lane, no one will be flashing at you.

If you pull out into the left lane without checking that no cars are approaching at higher speeds they will flash their lights because you just created an unsafe situation.

 

And they have public transportation, and people with a drivers license are expected to know how to drive.

 

^ THIS

 

Also: bet you anything these new button sets will be incompatible with previous models making upgrading impossible. If so they have it wrong: tons of people would gladly pay for such an upgrade. Dealers would get some much needed business.

 

I believe there are quite a few states in the US where you are not supposed to use your emergency flashers while the car is moving.

 

Here's a 2018 AAA report about that (note that things may have changed since then):

• Alabama: The use of hazard lights is permitted while driving unless otherwise posted.
• Alaska: The use of hazard lights is not permitted while driving.
• Arizona: Hazard light use is not permitted while driving except in an emergency situation.
• Arkansas: Hazard light usage is not permitted while driving except to indicate a traffic hazard.
• California: Hazard light use is not permitted while driving except to indicate a traffic hazard.
• Colorado: Hazard light use is not permitted while driving except if the vehicle speed is 25 mph or less.
• Connecticut: Hazard light use is permitted while driving unless otherwise posted.
• Delaware: Hazard light use is not permitted while driving except to indicate a traffic hazard.
• District of Columbia: Hazard light use is permitted while driving.
• Florida: The use of hazard lights is not permitted while driving.
• Georgia: The use of hazard lights is permitted while driving.
• Hawaii: Hazard light use is not permitted while driving.
• Idaho: Hazard light use is not permitted while driving except to indicate the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, overtaking or passing.
• Illinois: The use of hazard lights is not permitted while driving.
• Indiana: Hazard light use is not permitted while driving except in emergency situations.
• Iowa: The use of hazard lights are not permitted while driving except to indicate a traffic hazard.
• Kansas: Hazard light use is not permitted while driving.
• Kentucky: Hazard light use is permitted while driving.
• Louisiana: Hazard light use is not permitted while driving.
• Maine: Hazard light use is not permitted while driving unless to indicate a traffic hazard.
• Maryland: Hazard light use is not permitted while driving except in emergency situations.
• Massachusetts: Hazard light use is not permitted while driving.
• Michigan: Hazard light use is permitted while driving.
• Minnesota: Hazard lights are not permitted while driving except to indicate a traffic hazard.
• Mississippi: Hazard light usage is permitted while driving.
• Missouri: Hazard light usage is permitted while driving.
• Montana: Hazard lights are not permitted while driving except to indicate a traffic hazard.
• Nebraska: Hazard light use is permitted while driving.
• Nevada: Hazard light usage is not permitted while driving.
• New Hampshire: Hazard light use is permitted while driving.
• New Jersey: The use of hazard lights is permitted while driving.
• New Mexico: Hazard light use is not permitted while driving.
• New York: Hazard light use is permitted while driving unless otherwise posted.
• North Carolina: Hazard light use is permitted while driving unless otherwise posted.
• North Dakota: Hazard light use is permitted while driving unless otherwise posted.
• Ohio: Hazard light use is not permitted while driving except when a hazardous condition is present.
• Oklahoma: Hazard light use is not permitted while driving except in emergency situations and to indicate a traffic hazard.
• Oregon: Hazard light use is permitted while driving unless otherwise posted.
• Pennsylvania: Hazard light use is permitted while driving.
• Rhode Island: Hazard light use is not permitted while driving.
• South Carolina: Hazard lights may be used while driving for the purpose of warning the operators of other vehicles of the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring the exercise of unusual care in approaching, overtaking or passing.
• South Dakota: Hazard light use is permitted while driving.
• Tennessee: Hazard light use is not permitted while driving except in emergency situations.
• Texas: Hazard light use is permitted while driving.
• Utah: Hazard light use is permitted while driving.
• Vermont: Hazard light use is permitted while driving.
• Virginia: Hazard light use is not permitted while driving except for emergency vehicles, stopped or slowed vehicles to indicate a traffic hazard, when traveling as part of a funeral procession, or traveling slower than 30 mph.
• Washington: Hazard light use is not permitted while driving except to indicate a traffic hazard.
• West Virginia: Hazard lights are not permitted while driving except in emergency situations.
• Wisconsin: Hazard lights are not permitted while driving except to indicate a traffic hazard or when a hazardous condition is present.
• Wyoming: Hazard light use is permitted while driving.

 

And if a cop in Massachusetts or Rhode Island wants to stop me and cite me for it, then “Go ahead: make my day!”.

(Note that I don't just prophylactically run 'em any time visibility is bad; this seems to be what most of the kerfuffle is about.)

 

Yep. The place to argue a citation is later in court, not during the stop.

 

There are some valid reasons why someone would use flashers while driving. If one is driving with a temporary spare on the highway and driving at the recommended max speed of 50 mph, it makes sense to use flashers while everyone around you is driving at 80 mph on the 65 mph zone or if a car is running poorly, running in "limp mode" until they can get to the next exit.

I cannot understand the logic in completely banning the use of flashers/hazard lights when driving.

(edited for clarity)

 

I ASSUME that what they are really trying to ban is the blinker-dink who would drive along for miles and miles with the Emergency Flashers running and thus disabling both their Brake Lights and ordinary Turn Signals.

It's probably also a good way to provide a “Primary Stop Offense” so the cops can pull over suspected drunk drivers.