If you're driving through tough conditions in Ontario, think twice before hitting those flashing hazard lights. The OPP says they’re meant for emergencies — not just poor visibility.
Keep your four-way flashing lights OFF when you are driving with traffic, even if the driving conditions are less than ideal. But always drive with your full headlight and tail lighting systems turned on - day and night.
The OPP says you can use your four-way flashing lights momentarily if you're coming to a sudden and unexpected slowdown or stop on the highway, but only use four-ways continuously when your vehicle IS the hazard—for example, stopped and blocking a live lane due to a breakdown, accident, or pulling over for an emergency.
You can also use them momentarily to warn of a sudden, unexpected slowdown on a highway, but generally not while driving normally in bad weather, as it confuses other drivers and disables turn signals, say the Ontario Provincial Police.
When to Use Them:
- Vehicle is Stopped/Disabled: If your car breaks down, you have a flat tire, or you're pulled over on the roadside due to an emergency.
- Facing an Immediate Hazard: When you've stopped due to an obstruction or illness and are a danger to traffic.
- Sudden, Unexpected Slowing: Briefly activate them to signal a rapid, unexpected deceleration on a highway to warn drivers behind you.
- Being Pulled Over: To show compliance when a police officer is behind you and signalling you to stop.
When NOT to Use Them (Common Mistakes):
- Driving in Fog/Snow (Generally): Using them continuously while driving in bad weather is discouraged as it hides your turn signals and makes your vehicle seem stopped, confusing other drivers.
- Signalling a Slow Vehicle: Don't use them just because you're going slower than traffic; it sends the wrong messa
The Ontario Provincial Police stresses the lights are for when the vehicle is the hazard, not just for driving slowly. Use them only when necessary to prevent confusion and maintain clear communication on the road.