Communicate Your Presence
Other drivers may not notice your vehicle even when it is in plain sight. To help prevent accidents, let them know you are there.
When Passing. Whenever you are about to pass a vehicle, pedestrian, or bicyclist, assume that they do not see you. They could suddenly move in front of you. When it is legal, tap the horn lightly or, at night, flash your lights from low- to high beams and back. Drive carefully enough to avoid a crash even if they do not see or hear you.
When It Is Hard to See. At dawn, dusk, in rain or snow, you need to make yourself easier to see. If you are having trouble seeing other vehicles, other drivers will have trouble seeing you. Turn on your lights. Use the headlights, not just the identification or clearance lights. Use the low beams; high beams can bother people in the daytime as well as at night.
When Parked at the Side of the Road. When you pull off the road and stop, be sure to turn on the four-way emergency flashers. This is important at night. Do not trust the taillights to give a warning. Drivers have crashed into the rear of a parked vehicle because they thought it was moving normally. Place your warning devices at the following locations:
- If you must stop on a road or the shoulder of any road, you must put out your emergency warning devices within 10 minutes.
- If you must stop on or by a one-way or divided highway, place warning devices 10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet toward the approaching traffic.
- If you stop on a two-lane road carrying traffic in both directions or on an undivided highway, place warning devices within 10 feet of the front or rear corners to mark the location of the vehicle and 100 feet behind and ahead of the vehicle, on the shoulder or in the lane you stopped in.
- Back beyond any hill, curve, or other obstruction that prevents other drivers from seeing the vehicle within 500 feet. If the line of sight view is obstructed due to a hill or curve, move the rear-most triangle to a point back down the road so warning is provided.
- When putting out the triangles, hold them between yourself and the oncoming traffic for your own safety. (So other drivers can see you.)
Use Your Horn When Needed. Your horn can let others know you are there. It can help to avoid a crash. Use your horn when needed; however, it can startle others and could be dangerous when used unnecessarily.
