Originally, hazard warning flashers are used to warn the other traffic of emergency.
We usually turn on the flashers when the car breaks down and we need to pull over on the side of the road.
But here in Japan, we often use the flashers in many different situations.
#1 Thank you or Sorry
If some one gives way to you when you change the lanes or pull out of a parking lot, you should turn on the hazard warning flashers instead of thank you.
On the other hand, when you switch the lanes or pull out of a parking lot, if you mistakenly cut in front of some one and the person looks angry in the rearview mirror, you’d better turn on the hazard warning flashers in order to express an apology for your mistake to the driver.
You can wave a hand to express thank you to a driver facing you, but you should turn on the flashers to a driver behind you. Most of cars in Japan have a privacy glass on their rear glass.
Privacy glass is usually tinted in dark black and it’s hard for the driver behind you to see inside of your car.
You are under no obligation to do that. But it’s customary to do that in Japan. Some people get angry if you don’t show the flashers. In order to avoid a road rage, we really recommend using flashers when someone gives way to you or you cut in front of someone.
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