A Whole New Level of Communication Between Motorists

In the State of California, there are three reasons for using the hazrd lights on your automobile. The following is from the California Vehicle Code § 25251 (2025):

(2) When disabled or parked off the roadway but within 10 feet of the roadway, or when approaching, stopped at, or departing from, a railroad grade crossing, turn signal lamps may be flashed as warning lights if the front turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously.

(3) To warn other motorists of accidents or hazards on a roadway, turn signal lamps may be flashed as warning lights while the vehicle is approaching, overtaking, or passing the accident or hazard on the roadway if the front turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously.

(5) To warn other motorists of a funeral procession, turn signal lamps may be flashed as warning lights on all vehicles actually engaged in a funeral procession, if the front turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously.

Drivers in the state have, however, adopted other reasons for using the emergency flashers. They can be interpreted as follows:

• “I am a timid soul and not at all a sophisticated driver. Please do not kill me.”
• “I am not at all sure what I am doing, so please cut me some slack until such time as I make up my mind.”
• “The rain or snow or fog is cutting down on my visibility, so I’m just going to be super conservative until we’re out of the soup.”

There are others, but these are the most common interpretations that I’ve been able to divine.