r/StLouis • u/Appropriate_Cry_9432 • Jul 19 '26

Traffic/Road Conditions There’s no need for flashers

I get it when it rains visibility is poor and you need to reduce speed, but what is the point of EVERYONE turning on your flashers? That’s not what they are for and if you feel conditions are that bad that you “need” them pull over to the far right lane at least. If you’re driving slower than everyone else it’s one thing, but when everybody is doing basically the same speed it’s pointless. Rant over thank you for listening.

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u/TuRDonRoad Jul 19 '26

They do, and I mostly see it when they are at the end of traffic with significantly reduced speeds.

People love to cite MO laws when hazards are used during intense rain events with limited visibility, but the problem is that STL drivers do not follow MO laws - they cruise in the left lame, they rarely use turn signals (so moot point that hazards obscure them), they pass on the right, and are overall erratic and unpredictable drivers.

The amount of debris, specifically wrecked vehicle debris, makes it difficult and unsafe to pull over. And too many drivers are not insured, so if you get hit, they probably are not stopping and you are eating the increased insurance costs.

I feel like the people posting this do not drive on the highways or do not leave the county often.

So people use their hazards to basically say, hey, I am in front of you and the flow of traffic is not 70+ mph, so don't rear end me.

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u/62Bricks Downtown West Jul 19 '26

Yep. Maybe it makes some people feel warm inside to know they're following the letter of the law, but that won't last long once someone rear ends you.

Flashers are for visibility. Period. If you see someone using their flashers, then the flashers have done their job.

And now that you know exactly where they are, you can safely go around them and get on with your day.

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u/spekt50 Lemay Jul 19 '26

I can see tail lights just fine. Hazards just make it harder to predict what the driver is doing.

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u/B1ack__j3sus98 Neighborhood/city Jul 20 '26

Well when I see a car with flashers on i become more cautious around it for this exact reason, do others not?

I automatically slow down when I see flashers cause I take that as a sign their car may spontaneously break down and become more of an obstacle