When Does a Semi-Truck Need To Use Hazard Lights?

An increasing number of veteran truckers are retiring, leaving many fleet companies needing to recruit newer, less experienced truckers to fill their spots. Many of those tractor-trailer operators with newly minted commercial driver’s licenses have undergone training on operating these big trucks. However, they aren’t familiar with some of the common practices truckers learn to follow as they spend more time on the road and have to deal with unexpected events.

One such industry practice that new truckers are seldom familiar with is truckers’ tendency to use their hazard lights. There are a few different situations in which it may be customary for tractor-trailer operators to use hazard lights, which our expert truck accident attorneys from Louisville will detail throughout the remainder of this article.

What Types of Hazard Lights Do Tractor-Trailers Have?

Semi-trucks have amber-hued hazard lights, which are sometimes referred to as 4-way flashers, much like any other passenger car on the road. These emergency lights can be found on each of the four corners of a tractor-trailer and flash simultaneously. They serve the purpose of warning others of potential dangers that lie ahead on the road that could cause a truck collision.

How Do Truckers Utilize Their Hazard Lights?

If you ever take note of a grouping of truckers on the roadway, you’ll notice that many of them have their hazard lights on. If you perform an internet search trying to make sense of why this is the case, you’ll encounter a plethora of reasons why truckers use their flashers, including:

When Truckers Are Traveling Slower Than the Posted Speed Limit

Tractor-trailer operators may reduce their speed under a few different circumstances, including when:

• They’ve been made aware that a potentially hazardous situation lies ahead (i.e., wildlife in the roadway or any accident occupying a traffic lane)
• Operating their truck through a road construction zone
• They’re traveling along a heavily congested stretch of a roadway
• There’s inclement weather that affects roadway conditions
• Their truck is struggling to climb a hill given how heavy their load is
• They’re experiencing mechanical trouble

Kentucky is one of many states where it’s lawful for truckers to operate their tractor-trailers while running their hazard lights. While this may be good to know if you primarily run a local route, long-haul truckers should take time to apprise themselves of whether it’s lawful to run their hazard lights as they venture into new states.

When They Pull Over or Park

Truckers may find themselves needing to pull over on the shoulder because they suddenly feel unwell or their truck isn’t performing up to par, and they want to inspect to see if they can identify what the issue is. Additionally, truckers may pull over at a rest or truck stop or other welcoming location to take their mandatory rest periods.

It’s commonplace for truckers to turn on their hazard lights in either scenario described above. They do so largely to call attention to their presence, which is similar to the reason why utility workers will often exit their service vans or trucks and place cones both in front and to the rear of their vehicles before they commence work in the field. A trucker may, for example, illuminate their hazard lights so that a wrecker coming to tow their truck can better identify them.

To Communicate With Others

Although it’s illegal to do so, many motorists will flash their headlights or high beams at oncoming traffic to warn them of impending danger, like a speed trap zone being actively monitored by police. Truckers communicate with one another in much the same way drivers do by flashing their hazard lights.

It should be noted that truckers’ communication using their lights isn’t just restricted to their hazard ones. They also use their headlights and turn signals to call attention to their next moves or to give you the go-ahead to execute your plans. Truckers also like when motorists communicate in kind by using their vehicle’s onboard lights similar to them.

Some examples of ways truckers use their tractor-trailers lights to communicate include:

• Flashing their lights twice in quick succession to call attention to danger ahead
• Flickering headlights to give a passenger car operator the go-ahead that they have ample space to pass them or that they’ve cleared your vehicle

When They’re Carrying Hazardous Materials or Wide Loads

You can often readily identify a trucker carrying hazardous materials because they are operating a tanker truck instead of a tractor-trailer. They’ll also generally have a placard affixed to the rear portion of their trailer, warning other motorists what substance they’re carrying and of the flammability risk it poses.

Also, flatbed trucks are often used to carry cargo such as concrete barriers earmarked for placement along the highway in Louisville, recently cut down tree trunks that will be shaped into telephone poles, and mobile or manufactured homes.

Many truckers who operate tanker or flatbed trucks tend to leave their hazard lights illuminated for the same reason a tractor-trailer operator would on an interstate’s shoulder or when parked in a lot.

Our truck accident attorneys have learned a lot about the trucking industry in handling injury cases over the years. We’ve learned that truckers often use their hazard lights merely to call attention to their presence and warn others to keep a distance.

How Does a Truck Accident Attorney Fit Into Your Case?

Just because it’s been customary for truckers to use their hazard lights in certain ways with their colleagues doesn’t mean that everyone will get the message they’re trying to send. Mixed-up signals can lead to collisions in Louisville.

You may have a valid compensation claim to file if you can attribute the injuries you suffered to some type of trucker negligence.

You must meet specific requirements to establish such liability per Kentucky law. This is one of the many requirements that a truck accident lawyer will discuss with you during your complimentary initial consultation.

You need to take certain steps immediately following your crash to preserve your legal rights. Schedule your free case review with us at Thomas Law Offices today so that we can apprise you of what those are.