Around here people use them a lot when they start hitting traffic backups and slowing down, as well as when they hit a slippery patch, to alert other drivers to upcoming conditions.
It’s not due to being intimidated, it’s a courtesy.
Y'all forgot heavy fog. It was a life saver when fog made it hard to see five feet in front of me. We all slowed down to a crawl and conga lined our way out, hazards a blazin'.