Hazards Whilst Filtering?

[biker_adz]

Do people use their hazards whilst filtering traffic?

I know this is done all the time on the continent and to me it seems to make sense as anything you can do to increase visibility I feel is essential.

Having never had a bike before that had hazards I have never even had the choice but I was coming home in some heavy traffic yesterday and as it is so easy to do I flicked my hazards on and then off once I was clear of the traffic.

Does anybody else do this or know of a reason it shouldn't be done?

Also, do the fuel gauges on Strom's work out averages or something as I feel mine goes up and down more than a fiddler's elbow? And that it doesn't just go differ by 1 tab, sometimes I go from it saying that I am almost on empty to having 3 bars, or I don't know if it is just over sensitive to whether it is facing uphill/downhill etc. Or maybe it is just because I have not had a bike with a fuel gauge before (I don't think?!)

Thanks as always everybody

[Hugo Magnus]

You must not use hazard warning lights whilst driving (or being towed).

[Timmo]

Don't do it. Lots of reasons.

[Oop North John]

You must not use hazard warning lights whilst driving (or being towed).

Why not quote the whole part of the regulation?

https://www.gov.uk/general-rules-all-dr ... 113-to-116

And no I don't use them as 99.9% of other road users are looking forwards so they'll only see the flashing hazard warning lights after you've passed.

[Retraite]

Do people use their hazards whilst filtering traffic?

I know this is done all the time on the continent ………………………...

Sorry, that's incorrect and, like the UK, actually illegal.

[iansoady]

I've never seen it done either here or on the continent.

As an aside, why on earth do people (car drivers) put their hazards on when boarding a ferry?

[ziggy]

Ferry companies do instruct drivers to use hazard lights when boarding.
You could switch to high beam but again I have heard of someone being done as its classed as aggressive riding.

 

[stibbs]

I've never seen it done either here or on the continent.

As an aside, why on earth do people (car drivers) put their hazards on when boarding a ferry?

I travel through France quite a lot. In busy cities, Lyon, Paris, many riders use hazards whilst filtering.....

[Oop North John]

As an aside, why on earth do people (car drivers) put their hazards on when boarding a ferry?

To warn others that there's a 4 wheeled vehicle near to them, in case you miss the bits of plastic and metal in between the lights.

[Mitch]

Interesting replies.
 When learning to ride I WAS told to use hazards whilst filtering. I can however understand why you wouldn't. I tend not to filter anyway. Rush hour around Leeds is full of clueless drives.  I tend to stick in lane when I can.

[biker_adz]

Okay well I'm feeling that the general consensus is a no then!

It's not a big issue, I have been riding 12 years with no hazards to use and not had a problem, as I said I just feel anything that might catch eyes of a driver using their mirrors can only be useful, but would not want to be on the wrong side of the law.

Retraite, I admit that it was about 6 years ago but I drove through Holland to Germany and back and practically every bike we saw filtering was using hazards, particularly when we were coming out of Amsterdam at rush hour and it was rather busy.

Mitch, that is interesting that you were told to use them - how long ago was this?

[MartinW]

Never done it myself and never thought of it.

However, I can only believe it's illegal to use them while moving.

[UK_Vstrom650]

I've never used them filtering or been told to. However I do filter all the time in Leeds and agree with Mitch that rush hour in Leeds is full of clueless drivers so I tend to go slowly, unlike the muppet I occasionally see undertaking cars in a cycle lane  

[Jacko]

Is that 'illegal in Europe' as in 'ignore', or properly illegal like things are in Britain?

[ziggy]

Whilst in Germany 3 of us filtered to the front of a queue at a 3 lane traffic lights on red between row 3 and 2. Lane 3 turning left, lane 2 straight on as we were doing and lane 1 turning right. At this point a police officer appeared on his motorbike ordered us to the side of the road and read us the riot act in broken English. He said it was illegal to filter anywhere in Europe. It was pointless trying to tell him what is allowed in the UK. He finished by saying he could have fined us 60 Euro's each and he then went on his way. Lucky for us.
 

[frez]

They can be a bit weird in Germany. When I was in Frankfurt the pedestrians wouldn't cross the road when the pedestrian crossing showed red when the road was perfectly clear. I think it is because they have jaywalking laws. Even so, it was pretty weird.

[Jacko]

Too many rules. If they'd have moved away from the crossing and crossed would that still be jaywalking? Or is it just crossing a road?

[Brucey]

However, I can only believe it's illegal to use them while moving.

This isn't correct, as you are supposed to use your hazards on the approach to stationary or very slow moving traffic on a motorway to alert drivers behind you to the hazard.

I don't think it makes a massive difference filtering, and agree that most drivers are looking ahead when stationary anyway. I tried it for a while, and what does sometimes happen is if a driver four or five cars ahead happens to look back, often they will notice the flashers and create a space. The herd mentality takes over and the cars around do the same, assuming some sort of 'official' vehicle approaching. Didn't happen often enough to make it worth maintaining the practice, as I believe it is a minor traffic offence (although you would have to be a particularly anal traffic plod to give a ticket IMHO)

[ziggy]

Here you are from the horses mouth.

https://www.gov.uk/general-rules-all-dr ... 113-to-116


116

Hazard warning lights. These may be used when your vehicle is stationary, to warn that it is temporarily obstructing traffic. Never use them as an excuse for dangerous or illegal parking. You MUST NOT use hazard warning lights while driving or being towed unless you are on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway and you need to warn drivers behind you of a hazard or obstruction ahead. Only use them for long enough to ensure that your warning has been observed.
Law RVLR reg 27

[Oop North John]

Here you are from the horses mouth.
https://www.gov.uk/general-rules-all-dr ... 113-to-116

Same link as my post    great minds think alike  

Strange, it makes no mention of being allowed to park anywhere, at anytime, and with absolutely no regard for other road / path users if you have the hazard warning lights flashing