When exiting a highway to pull over, it’s important to slow down gradually and turn on your hazard lights for several reasons:

1. Safety: Slowing down allows you to safely maneuver your vehicle off the highway and onto the shoulder or emergency lane. Abruptly reducing your speed or stopping without warning can catch other drivers off guard and potentially cause accidents.
2. Visibility: Turning on your hazard lights makes your vehicle more visible to other drivers, especially if you are pulling over in low light conditions, adverse weather, or on a busy highway. The flashing lights draw attention to your vehicle and indicate that you are experiencing an issue or emergency.
3. Warning others: Hazard lights serve as a universal sign of distress or caution. By activating them, you communicate to other drivers that you are slowing down and pulling over, giving them time to react accordingly, change lanes, or slow down if necessary.
4. Legal requirement: In many jurisdictions, it is legally required to turn on your hazard lights when pulling over on a highway or in an emergency situation. Failing to do so may result in a traffic citation.

Remember, when pulling over on a highway, always aim for the furthest right lane, slow down gradually, and pull over as far away from traffic as possible. Once stopped, keep your hazard lights on and consider placing reflective triangles or flares behind your vehicle if you have them, especially at night or in low visibility conditions.