OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

Making light of hazard lights

JESSADA TANDHASETTI

I believe that the majority of motorists are familiar with the hazard light. Try and find it. It's a red switch with a triangle as a logo or in some cases is substituted by the word "emergency".

The hazard light is located not too near or far from the reach of the driver but still isn't as convenient as say the signal lights.

Why? It's not for everyday use. It's an emergency light. It's used for emergencies only and for other motorists to be aware of your situation. For example, a car accident or engine failure.

The hazard light is not a signal light for right of way at intersections which many seem to misunderstand. The hazard is definitely not a license to be selfish such as parking at no-parking zones without any regard to the traffic behind you.

It's strange that such wrong doings are encouraged and gaining popularity. When it's time to turn you are too lazy to flick on the signal light, especially those attempting left turns just because they assume it is not dangerous. But when you go straight, you insist on turning on the hazard light. I really don't know who it is (or which side of the traffic) that you are asking?

This is down right dangerous. Vehicles coming from the left understand that your hazard lights are actually left-turn signals because all they see is the left portion of your car. As for the vehicle following you might conclude that you are turning either left or right in the case that a motorcycle is blocking the view of either signal light. Chances are this scenario could occur but not that often.

If you want to go straight, do not turn on any light.

Another wrongdoing is the use of fog lights.

New vehicle models have factory-issue fog lights integrated into the lower section of the front bumper. Some are optional equipment and you have to dish out extra money, while others purchase "spot lights" at special accessory shops.

The reality behind it all is that the aforementioned are foglights which were designed for foggy road conditions only. That is why the position of installation is usually at a low area when compared to the driver's line of sight to prevent reflections from the fog.

Since it's a foglight, use it only during foggy conditions. In developed countries if you use foglights just because it illuminates the road ahead of you, I guarantee you won't go far because the cops will get you first. Or else other motorists will make you know how they feel (in a most unpleasant way).

But our country lacks the proper driving etiquette which is why you see motorists using foglights and causing discomfort to fellow motorists due to its brightness (owing to the fact that we don't have much fog to block the bright beams).

Those who abide by this wrong practice will also suffer because extended periods of foglight usage results in heat buildup. And say, a sudden downpour occurs, what you have is the potential cracking of the glass lens after coming into contact with the rain.

If there's no fog, don't use the foglights. Foglight usage does not attract attention anymore because everybody seems to be using foglights as it is.

Jessada Tandhasetti is former department head of automotive engineering studies at Rangsit University and is currently a technical consultant. He holds a master's degree in automotive engineering from Technical University, Berlin, Germany.

Bangkok Post

Last Updated : Sunday April 08, 2007