Where to buy road flares?

Anyone know where I could buy some road flares online? I need the kind that actually burn, not the blinking LEDs that are advertised as "flares."

Probably easier to buy them locally. I bought mine at an auto parts store. I would guess there are restrictions about shipping something that flammable.

drizzle said:

Probably easier to buy them locally. I bought mine at an auto parts store. I would guess there are restrictions about shipping something that flammable.

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I agree. Most any department store/auto parts store will have them very cheap.

Check with any local cops you know. They usually have an entire boxload in their cruisers. Find out where they buy them from.

mugs said:

Anyone know where I could buy some road flares online? I need the kind that actually burn, not the blinking LEDs that are advertised as "flares."

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I agree that you should try and get the locally due to the cost of shipping. If you HAVE to get them online you can get them here - http://www.awdirect.com/

Good stuff.

id prefare electric ones but if ya want the other kind i say autopart store as ohter have said them things scare me i dont like to carry flamable stuff in a car well i guess thats silly considering it has gas in it

Many sources online. Just go to google/yahoo and type in 'safety flare' and then modify it with '20 minute burntime' and '30 minute burntime' to get some sites.

Since it's combustible, there is a hazmat charge involved . It is 20 bucks, so it'd be in you best interest if you're going online to either order a large case for yourself, or go in with friends and split up a case so that you can also split up the hazmat.

Locally, you can go to auto supply to get them, and you can also go to boating supply to get them as well. Auto supply will get you the best chance at the larger ones, like 30 minute, while boat supply seems to focus on meteors and short duration handhelds. For automotive uses, I recommend keeping 20 minute flares. They are easier to store, and IME the 30's are often more than a private party might need.

I carry some in my cars, and it's amazing how durable those things are. All of that Florida summer heat and they still work when I rotate stocks. I don't mind carrying them in a car. The design of the things are such that they'd never ignite via impact. The flare ignitor is well protected, and if the thing got ignited by a heat source, that would generally mean that the car was on fire to begin with.

Downside is using them near a crash where there might be gas leaking, or placing them on dry grass and such, both cases where there might be a chance of fire. Thinking a little before using them will go a long way toward increasing safety.

Shame you don't know a cop. You could gank a couple from him.:naughty: Just kidding.

HTH.

Thanks for all the responses. I hadn't considered the hazmat thing, I guess that's why I've had such a hard time finding them online. I never noticed them at auto part stores, but I'll check today. I'm going up to the Army/Navy store today, so I might as well check there too.

I remember when they used to use smudge pots to mark road construction and accidents. They looked lile little bowling balls with a flame coming out of the top. As a child I was always afraid that one of those things would set our tires on fire when we passed them.

I pick mine up in Truck Stops.

Flying J
T/A
Bosselmans

And others have them.

I use a ton of them, Seems i am always the first one to stop at the bad crashes,

Yesterday i used 5 on the way home over by Des Moines because a car wanted to see if they could run over a bridge rail in the ice. Played pinball on the bridge then poped out other side and sat cross both lanes.


Rob

I heard somewhere that safety authorities are recommending those plastic reflector triangles over flares. You set up 3 triangles, a couple well before your incident. They can be more visible since they stand up a foot or so, and don't burn out in 15 minutes. No fire hazards.

my local ACE hardware store has'em; check yours.

louie said:

I heard somewhere that safety authorities are recommending those plastic reflector triangles over flares. You set up 3 triangles, a couple well before your incident. They can be more visible since they stand up a foot or so, and don't burn out in 15 minutes. No fire hazards.

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Flares have the advantage of being able to start a fire in an emergency if necessary. And if you're stranded somewhere, they can be used to draw attention to yourself (although emergency flares are better for that, they burn super-bright but don't last very long).

Yep, most local hardware stores around here have them...but it's probably a long drive for you to Anchorage!

i have my DOT Triangles that are for when i break down on the side of the road. The flares are nice to set up and forget.

Cops wont let you pick up the triangles at a crash site after they arive. So $5 in flares VS $50 for the triangles that we will get shut down if not on the truck.

Ohh and if you have any HazMat load, DO NOT have any flares on your truck/car.

Rob

If you are in NYC (Brooklyn) PM me than stop by when I'm on duty and I give you some.

Sleestak said:

Shame you don't know a cop. You could gank a couple from him.:naughty: Just kidding.

HTH.

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Speaking of which, here's a handy section of the California Vehicle Code for good samaritans on the left-coast:

2419. (a) Any member of the California Highway Patrol may give flares to any person as replacement for flares used by such person to warn traffic of an accident or other hazardous condition on a highway, provided such person was not required by law to give such warning, or was not involved in the accident or the creation of the hazardous condition. The officer shall not replace such flares unless he is reasonably satisfied that such person in fact placed the flares for which replacement is requested.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the person requesting replacement of flares shall not be required to file any claim for such flares.

I got them at Autozone, thanks.

Try Walmart. $8 for 3 15 minute flares, $16 for 6 30 minute flares. Check in the auto department. 5 minute Orion brand flares in camping section 3 for $5.

I just stop by the local firehouse and ask for a few