What are "hazard lights" used for?

Hazard lights, also known as emergency flashers, are specifically designed to alert other drivers of a stopped or disabled vehicle. When you activate the hazard lights, both the front and rear turn signals flash simultaneously, drawing attention to the vehicle. This feature serves as a warning to other road users that there is a potentially dangerous situation, such as an unexpected stop due to mechanical issues or an accident, and they should exercise caution when approaching. Utilizing hazard lights effectively enhances safety by making it clear that your vehicle is not moving as expected and that it may present a hazard on the roadway.

The other choices do not correctly describe the primary function of hazard lights. For instance, indicating a turn involves using only the turn signal lights, which are intended to provide directional information to other drivers. Signaling acceleration and merging typically require standard turn signals and do not utilize hazard lights, which serve a unique safety purpose in alerting to hazards on the road.