When is the use of hazard lights permitted while driving?

Hazard lights are specifically designed to alert other drivers to a potential hazard on the road. Their primary purpose is to indicate that a vehicle is either stationary due to an emergency, such as a breakdown, or that it is posing some form of danger that could disrupt the flow of traffic. When a vehicle breaks down or is involved in an emergency situation, using hazard lights effectively communicates to other road users that they should be cautious as they approach, as the normal rules of traffic may be altered.

Using hazard lights while driving excessively fast, in foggy conditions, or when merely parking in a busy area does not align with the intended use of hazard lights. Each of these situations can be addressed with different driving practices, but they do not constitute the emergency criteria that warrant the use of hazard lights. So, the correct understanding is that hazard lights should be used primarily when faced with emergencies or breakdowns to ensure safety on the road.