Orion safety has been making highway flares and other roadside signaling products for nearly a century. flares are the universally understood emergency distress signal alerting oncoming traffic to a life-threatening situation. flares are a needed addition to your auto safety kit for emergencies on the side of the road. flares are used to channel traffic around a disabled vehicle, roadway obstruction or accident scene. flares warn oncoming traffic to reduce speed and give lateral separation to the car on the side of the road, making it safer for everyone.