Hazard light use when driving in rain prohibited: Police

Hazard light use when driving in rain prohibited: Police

The use of hazard lights is permitted only in emergencies, said Bukit Aman traffic investigation and enforcement (JSPT) director Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri, according to Kosmo.

The matter of using hazard lights in Malaysia is still vague as there are no clear and specific guidelines on hazard light usage, however in the event that the driver of a vehicle needs to stop the vehicle in limited visibility and they are unable to maintain control of the vehicle, hazard lights are for the purpose of warning other road users immediately behind, and for them to take evasive action, Mohd Azman said.

In addition to hazard light use during heavy rain, they are often seen to be used in convoy for weddings, funerals, motoring clubs or when a vehicle is being towed, according to the article.

“The use of hazard lights on a moving vehicle will confuse other road users especially in heavy rain. [In these conditions, it is difficult to see if a vehicle is stopped or is moving, and makes it very dangerous if a vehicle that is thought to be moving, turns out to have broken down or been stranded in the middle of the road,” the JSPT director said.

In October 2021, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) JSPT previously issued a reminder on the proper use of hazard lights, and the latest statement from the Bukit Aman JSPT director is timely as the end of year will see more rainfall. Instead of using hazard lights when driving, use the dipped main beam to better mark one’s presence on the road to avoid confusing and adding unnecessary stress for other motorists.

In this time of the year when more rainfall also means more instances of reduced visibility on the road, remember to take the usual precautions – increase the distance between your vehicle and the one ahead of you to give yourself more room to react.

Also, try to avoid the far-right-hand-side lane during or after very heavy rain, as there may be standing water on the lane that can be kicked up from the opposite direction, and because the right-hand-side lane tends to be of faster-moving traffic, water on this side is likely to be kicked up the highest, obscuring more of one’s windscreen and thus increasing the duration of temporary ‘blindness’.

Be mindful of standing water hazards in one’s own lane, too, and ensure that one’s tyres are in optimum condition for use; they are, after all the only intended points of contact between a vehicle and the road. Last but not least, drive to the conditions, increase following distance between vehicles and reduce speed when rain gets heavy.

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Mick Chan

Open roads and closed circuits hold great allure for Mick Chan. Driving heaven to him is exercising a playful chassis on twisty paths; prizes ergonomics and involvement over gadgetry. Spent three years at a motoring newspaper and short stint with a magazine prior to joining this website.

 

Comments

  • M50B25 on Nov 30, 2023 at 10:57 am

    Oh yea? How about poolissssss flashing their blue lights when not in pursuit, only to confuse people to get out of their way and abuse their powers?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 33 Thumb down 8
    • MB Sanusi on Nov 30, 2023 at 5:13 pm

      Alwiz switched on blinking hazard lights masa hujan to gips me a sense of Invincibility on my Raptor.. Cute me isnt it

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • You think only when in pursuit police use blue lights? What about responding to emergency calls like robbery?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 4
    • If I see a car with hazard lights I would instinctively avoid it or hit the brakes if I’m too close. They are only for stalled cars! Not for moving vehicles. It’s common knowledge for the rest of the world…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
    • Like dogs they tru$t on Dec 01, 2023 at 8:53 am

      Yeah, sure… You are right and police is wrong… I know that “good citizen song” when it comes to road rules and regulations…

      Well, more seriously. I often see new driver having their P sticker on the right side instead of the mandatory left side. Just a hint of certain “Malaysian drivers profile”.

      I mean, this is a basic rule learnt during licence trainings.

      Those freshly new drivers just show how much they don’t give a shit about rules and regulations on road (and logically in the rest of the society)

      I have witnessed parents telling their kids who just passed they P to follow “their adults behaviours” which means, to not give priority when technically they should, forcing the kids to behave with no road courtesy.

      Let’s not talk about all those drivers having 2, 3 or even 4 (((smart))) screens on their dashboard, unable to stay focused on the road because “being assisted and permanently entertained” is super-cool…

      Malaysians are not born like that, they become selfish, idiotic and tards with the guidance of their lovely parents, members of that ultra-individualist consumers society that teach the cattle (taxpayers) that customers are always right, that whatever “it is” we have to tolerate, tolerate always the worse behaviours until the whole group is corrupted, deviant and degenerated to the core. We are forbidden to question, to judge, to simply think about what is logically right or wrong.

      Paradoxically, since 2 years, I notice drivers are getting more and more clumsy, slow and hesitant, with a drastic increase of drivers causing weird accidents like “crashing in roadside coffee shop” having lost control of their vehicle…

      Guess what? It’s because their immune system is not “up to date”… They have sudden “brain malfunctions”, little strokes times to times, and new sickness that nobody ever heard about it, isn’t it…

      It’s funny how people can criticise the police but follow blindly any “superstars bullshit recommendations” on TVs…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
  • Yeahsure on Nov 30, 2023 at 11:07 am

    the msg should go exclusively to P2 drivers…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 6
  • Puzzled by article on Nov 30, 2023 at 11:08 am

    Hazard light’s intent and purpose is to signify a vehicle that has stopped for an emergency. The key word here is stopped.

    Drivers having the misunderstanding of its intent should not be driving in the 1st place. Using hazard lights during rain / when the vehicle is in motion, is fundamentally irresponsible, as it poses safety risks to other road users as well. No guideline needed, just re-education.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 27 Thumb down 2
  • far east on Nov 30, 2023 at 11:37 am

    tell that to the VIPs & kayangans also la

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 3
  • DonkeyKong on Nov 30, 2023 at 11:52 am

    What is the police gonna do about it? Rear fog light use during calm weather is prohibited and yet plenty of brainless idiots drive around with their rear fog lights on, glaring the vehicles behind, just because these idiots think it’s stylish to drive with rear fog lights permanently switched on. But, nothing is done, even when vehicles with rear fog lights turned on are passing through police checkpoints.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 0
  • Good. And also more educational advertisement.
    AND do not turn on rear fog lamp for no reason.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • Ben Yap on Nov 30, 2023 at 2:26 pm

    malaysians will on any lights they can find during heavy rain from fog lights to hazard lights. the only light they don’t on is the cabin lights.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
  • Use fog lamp instead in heavy rain. Don’t forget to turn it off after that

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • Laugh on Nov 30, 2023 at 3:23 pm

    Same problem different mask.
    (hazard light while rain, rear fog light no rain, glaring
    headlights and etc)

    No enforcement, talk only.

    Waste time.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 0
    • so,

      Hazard Light refer to Double signal or Fog Light?

      Zero written words mentioned here.

      waste time.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 9
      • Hantu Raya on Dec 01, 2023 at 7:09 am

        If you don’t know what are hazard lights, you shouldn’t be driving.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
        • Relax, he got 3 doses in the brain, don’t ask him too much “technical stuff” lol

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
      • Seitha on Dec 01, 2023 at 11:21 am

        Where did you learn “double signal”??

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Nonsense on Dec 01, 2023 at 1:25 pm

        Only one of the two indicating hazard when turned on. That’s basic knowledge. Arrogant comment, but stupid.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Matchy on Nov 30, 2023 at 3:35 pm

    Just turn on the lights… if have rear fog light *cough*toyota drivers*cough* then turn them on.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
  • t333son on Nov 30, 2023 at 5:44 pm

    in no law land, any light including hazards is better than idiots with no lights

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • longjaafar on Dec 01, 2023 at 10:14 am

    Yes, but will they enforce the ruling?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • GTFO69695 on Dec 11, 2023 at 8:13 pm

    You missed a very big point that many Asian drivers simply have NO idea about. If it’s a rainy day, TURN YOUR HEADLIGHTS ON! It’s not difficult. Be as visible as possible!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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