Hazard warning lights symbol (red triangle)

How to read it

Canada’s Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations describe the symbol as two equilateral triangles, one inside the other, or a solid triangle with a small triangular space at its centre, and set its tell-tale as red; UN Regulation No. 121 also makes it red. Chevrolet’s 2022 Bolt EUV manual says the button makes the front and rear turn signal lamps flash, warning others that the driver is having trouble.

Also searched as: emergency flashers, four-way flashers, hazard lights button, hazard light symbol, red triangle button.

What shows on the dashboard

The hazard lights can show on the dashboard as the turn signal arrows flashing together. Canada lets the left and right turn signal tell-tales flashing together act as the hazard tell-tale, and UN Regulation No. 121 then doesn’t require a separate one. FMVSS No. 108 requires both turn signal indicators, or a separate indicator, to flash while the hazard lights are on, and a separate hazard indicator to be red. Nissan’s 2024 Rogue has one turn signal/hazard indicator light that flashes for either.

What the manual says to do

Ford’s F-150 manual says to use the hazard flashers when the vehicle is creating a safety hazard for other motorists. It says they work with the ignition in any position, and that using them with the vehicle not running drains the battery. Chevrolet says the turn signals don’t work while the hazard flashers are on. In the UK, the Highway Code allows them when the vehicle is stationary and temporarily obstructing traffic, and on the move only on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway to warn drivers behind of a hazard or obstruction ahead.

Look-alikes

The master warning light is a single triangle with an exclamation mark inside it. The hazard symbol is an empty triangle inside another.