In the US, you can get magnesium road flares. IIRC, some places in Europe don’t permit them due to fire risk, but in the States, I can get them even in California (which is probably about the most fire-conscious state out there).
Not sure what the current best guidance is but: Please do not use “real” flares unless you have no other choice.
First and foremost: They are horrible for night vision of you and everyone around you. It is basically like you are blasting your headlights into the eyes of EVERYONE who goes near that stretch of road.
Also, a lot of people don’t know how to properly extinguish them. Which results in random ass flares left burning or a hesitance to use them at all.
And cost/space wise? They are horrible. Quick check of amazon says three flares are about 30 bucks. 3 LED flares are about 20. And the road flares are meant to last 15-30 minutes (your mileage may vary). The LEDs last until you turn them off because they are LEDs.
Cops love them because cops are raging assholes who want to make everyone else understand they are doing cop things in the vicinity.
But as a driver? You are better off with the LED flares in basically every single situation.
And, as an aside: Driving back from the airport usually involves going past a stretch of interstate where it seems people can’t NOT explode tires on a daily basis. And it is not an exaggeration to say that random ass flares burning in the middle of the road or in the ditch between directions is a nightly occurrence.
You’re entitled to use electric flares if you want, but I will use the chemical ones.
First, I would point out that my comment is in response to your comment pointing out that electric flares may-or-may-not have a charged battery.
Second, magnesium flares have much-better visibility.
As for life, you can get longer ones, and use as many as you want; I carry three extended-size ones.
I also have a flasher on something like a 400 Wh, large lithium battery that I keep in the car, but I’m not going to rely on that to have someone not slam into me in the fog.
No. It was more a statement that the LED flares are basically one use only… unless you are spending every night on the side of the road. Their shelf life is more or less the same as a chemical flare in that case.
As for “improved visibility”: The goal of a flare is not to make everyone see you and to let you see what you are doing. The goal is to say “Hey, something is over here. Be careful”.
But also: You do realize that your tail lights/brake lights are more or less the exact same LEDs, right? So unless you duct tape flares to your car and roll around Fury Road style, I think you are fine there. Even on a foggy day.
Which gets to the other aspect: “Visibility” is bad when it is extremely bright lights at night. There is a reason that headlights (you know, those things people ignore in favor of the high beams) aren’t actually insanely bright. They are bright enough and angled enough that you can see where you are going. You pulse your high beams if the way is clear to see farther. If the way is not clear? Then the other headlights on the road provide extended visibility.
And… I am not sure if you have ever had to drive on a country/mountain road with asshole trucks with the high beams on. But it more or less renders you blind for a few seconds until they pass and you just have to rely on maintaining your lane. And if there is a curve? You either risk a header or you slow down and let them by first.
Which is why, as nice as it sounds to have a daylight flare right next to your car on the side of the road, it actually greatly increases the danger to you. Same reason you never use high beams in the fog (even though people do…) and actual fog lights are angled very differently.
As for “improved visibility”: The goal of a flare is not to make everyone see you and to let you see what you are doing. The goal is to say “Hey, something is over here. Be careful”.
Right. For which visibility is important.
You do realize that your tail lights/brake lights are more or less the exact same LEDs, right?
Yup. Which people proceed to slam into in those many-car pileups in the fog when they can’t see far-enough away that something is wrong despite people having their hazard blinkers on, and nicely illustrates why you would want to have magnesium flares.
In the US, you can get magnesium road flares. IIRC, some places in Europe don’t permit them due to fire risk, but in the States, I can get them even in California (which is probably about the most fire-conscious state out there).
Not sure what the current best guidance is but: Please do not use “real” flares unless you have no other choice.
First and foremost: They are horrible for night vision of you and everyone around you. It is basically like you are blasting your headlights into the eyes of EVERYONE who goes near that stretch of road.
Also, a lot of people don’t know how to properly extinguish them. Which results in random ass flares left burning or a hesitance to use them at all.
And cost/space wise? They are horrible. Quick check of amazon says three flares are about 30 bucks. 3 LED flares are about 20. And the road flares are meant to last 15-30 minutes (your mileage may vary). The LEDs last until you turn them off because they are LEDs.
Cops love them because cops are raging assholes who want to make everyone else understand they are doing cop things in the vicinity.
But as a driver? You are better off with the LED flares in basically every single situation.
And, as an aside: Driving back from the airport usually involves going past a stretch of interstate where it seems people can’t NOT explode tires on a daily basis. And it is not an exaggeration to say that random ass flares burning in the middle of the road or in the ditch between directions is a nightly occurrence.
You’re entitled to use electric flares if you want, but I will use the chemical ones.
First, I would point out that my comment is in response to your comment pointing out that electric flares may-or-may-not have a charged battery.
Second, magnesium flares have much-better visibility.
As for life, you can get longer ones, and use as many as you want; I carry three extended-size ones.
I also have a flasher on something like a 400 Wh, large lithium battery that I keep in the car, but I’m not going to rely on that to have someone not slam into me in the fog.
No. It was more a statement that the LED flares are basically one use only… unless you are spending every night on the side of the road. Their shelf life is more or less the same as a chemical flare in that case.
As for “improved visibility”: The goal of a flare is not to make everyone see you and to let you see what you are doing. The goal is to say “Hey, something is over here. Be careful”.
But also: You do realize that your tail lights/brake lights are more or less the exact same LEDs, right? So unless you duct tape flares to your car and roll around Fury Road style, I think you are fine there. Even on a foggy day.
Which gets to the other aspect: “Visibility” is bad when it is extremely bright lights at night. There is a reason that headlights (you know, those things people ignore in favor of the high beams) aren’t actually insanely bright. They are bright enough and angled enough that you can see where you are going. You pulse your high beams if the way is clear to see farther. If the way is not clear? Then the other headlights on the road provide extended visibility.
And… I am not sure if you have ever had to drive on a country/mountain road with asshole trucks with the high beams on. But it more or less renders you blind for a few seconds until they pass and you just have to rely on maintaining your lane. And if there is a curve? You either risk a header or you slow down and let them by first.
Which is why, as nice as it sounds to have a daylight flare right next to your car on the side of the road, it actually greatly increases the danger to you. Same reason you never use high beams in the fog (even though people do…) and actual fog lights are angled very differently.
Right. For which visibility is important.
Yup. Which people proceed to slam into in those many-car pileups in the fog when they can’t see far-enough away that something is wrong despite people having their hazard blinkers on, and nicely illustrates why you would want to have magnesium flares.