When should you turn on your hazard lights while driving?

Turning on your hazard lights is appropriate in specific situations where added visibility and warning to other drivers is necessary. When driving in heavy rain, visibility can be significantly reduced, and your vehicle may be difficult for others to see. Activating your hazard lights alerts other drivers to your presence, prompting them to exercise caution and maintain a safe distance.

In contrast, while there are other scenarios such as parking on the side of the road or driving in fog where you might also consider using hazard lights, heavy rain is particularly critical due to the safety concerns associated with low visibility conditions. Similarly, while driving at night generally requires headlights to be on for visibility, it is not as directly tied to the use of hazard lights for signaling presence or caution as heavy rainfall.