Methods and systems for road flare detection are described. A computing device configured to control the vehicle, may be configured to receive, from an image-capture device, images; image portions of the images may depict an area within a predetermined distance from a surface of a road on which the vehicle is travelling. Also, the computing device may be configured to determine, based on characteristics of an object depicted in the image portions such as color spectrum of the object, brightness of the object, and whether the object is stationary or moving with respect to the road, a likelihood that the object represents a road flare. Based on the likelihood, the computing device may be configured to modify a control strategy associated with a driving behavior of the vehicle; and control the vehicle based on the modified control strategy.