Say goodbye to Mustang's sequential turn signals

[MX793]

What about the white turn signals that you can get on Mini's?

White lights on the rear of a vehicle (excluding backup lights) are strictly forbidden by every state in the US.  You can have a clear/white lens, but the light itself has to be red or amber.

[ChrisV]

So because an imperfect situation couldn't be immediately corrected, it should be ignored altogether?

Good idea.

The ACTUAL FUCKING PROBLEM should be addressed. Why is this so fucking hard to figure out?

[hotrodalex]

They want to regulate this, but how are the people who are having the problem going to deal with the fact that cars will still be on the road that predate the regulation? Are they going to freak out and crash because they suddenly get behind a 2009 Malibu that doesn't have amber turn signals?

In that case they are screwed if they get behind a pick up truck.

I don't pay attention to the placement of lights.

All I know is Red = stop, Green = go, and Yellow = go faster.

I can be kinda color blind sometimes.

But really, the light doesn't matter. They all mean go faster.

[Cookie Monster]

In that case they are screwed if they get behind a pick up truck.

I can be kinda color blind sometimes.

But really, the light doesn't matter. They all mean go faster.

How does red mean go faster?

[hotrodalex]

White lights on the rear of a vehicle (excluding backup lights) are strictly forbidden by every state in the US.  You can have a clear/white lens, but the light itself has to be red or amber.

That's what I thought, which kinda confused me when I saw that options on Mini's. But it makes sense now.

[ifcar]

The ACTUAL FUCKING PROBLEM should be addressed. Why is this so fucking hard to figure out?

Why not do both?

[hotrodalex]

How does red mean go faster?

Gotta beat the semi coming to T-bone you.

Why not do both?

Because stupid regulations equal just that, stupid.

[Cookie Monster]

That's what I thought, which kinda confused me when I saw that options on Mini's. But it makes sense now.

They just charge you 200 bux to change your bulb from white to yellow and your lens from yellow to white.

[ifcar]

White lights on the rear of a vehicle (excluding backup lights) are strictly forbidden by every state in the US.  You can have a clear/white lens, but the light itself has to be red or amber.

What a bunch a bubble-wrappin' safety-lovin' weenies.

[Cookie Monster]

Gotta beat the semi coming to T-bone you.

[S204STi]

No difference in a turn signal being out and one simply not used.

if someone ahead of you is hitting their brakes, you should be slowing down. If they are using their turn signal, you should be slowing down. it doesn't matter if you confuse a brake light and a turn signal, you should be slowing down. If you hit a car because YOU confused a brake light and a turn signal, when millions of drivers have no problem with it, it's YOUR fault, not the signal's fault.

The signal isn't the problem, it's lack of personal responsibility.

Life does NOT guarantee your safety. If you want to be guaranteed safe when driving, DON'T.

So how long until we are required to be wrapped up in bubble wrap so we don't run the risk of getting a boo boo from someone else?

Well I think there should be some responsiblity on the part of the driver who doesn't check their tail lamps like they should and have one or two or even all three lamps out simultaneously.  In the scenario MX793 shared, the drivers who pump their brakes on approach to a stop with two lamps out could cause your brain to confuse it with a turn signal.  So much of our driving is intuitive response, really.

Oh and just to through another hand grenade into the discussion, what if you're colorblind like me?  How should that factor into things?  Personally I can't see red turn signals as well in the daytime if the sun is in my eyes.  Orange is brighter to my eye, therefor I pick up on it more readily even in poor or bright light.

[hotrodalex]

What a bunch a bubble-wrappin' safety-lovin' weenies.

That's the spirit!

[Cookie Monster]

Why not do both?

Most of these problems wouldn't even come up with better drivers license tests and education. But instead of correcting that and making it harder to make sure people can drive, people are just making cars as safe as possible to try and make up for the fact that most people are shitty drivers.

[MX793]

That's all I look at. The only time I really pay attention to color is when I'm very far away from the light and can't tell.

That could bite you in some places.  There's an "upside down" traffic light in Syracuse, NY with the green on the top and red on the bottom (IIRC, this is the only traffic signal in the country that is like this).

[hotrodalex]

I have a question - why regulate something that isn't even used by 70% of drivers?

[Cookie Monster]

I have a question - why regulate something that isn't even used by 70% of drivers?

[S204STi]

That could bite you in some places.  There's an "upside down" traffic light in Syracuse, NY with the green on the top and red on the bottom (IIRC, this is the only traffic signal in the country that is like this).

Green looks more or less white to me, and red is... well dark. lol.  Yellow is somewhere in between, but since it's in the middle of the light most of the time it's easy to spot it.  Plus my eyes pick up the shift in position and color anyway. 

[Vinsanity]

This sucks. I've always liked the vertical stack of LED's on all the other Cadillacs much more than the incandescent bulbs in the taillight housing of the 1st-gen CTS (which has a small square orange area for the turn signal lamp)

[Tave]

"Goodbye."

I'm opposed to people using lowest common denominator regulations to make up for their own failure to pay attention.

They want to regulate this, but how are the people who are having the problem going to deal with the fact that cars will still be on the road that predate the regulation? Are they going to freak out and crash because they suddenly get behind a 2009 Malibu that doesn't have amber turn signals?

They already regulate light colors.

[2o6]

The 2000-era Taurus is another I'm thinking of.

Many fords do it. The Econoline does it. The GV does it. My bro's Tahoe does it. The New Focus does it.



It's annoying and confusing. Amber would also simplify costs as well, since many cars are international and many other counrties require amber signal lights.

[giant_mtb]

It's annoying and confusing?  I don't see the annoyance or confusion.  I've never once been annoyed or confused by somebody's goddamn turn signal.  I just don't get it.

[2o6]

It's annoying and confusing?  I don't see the annoyance or confusion.  I've never once been annoyed or confused by somebody's goddamn turn signal.  I just don't get it.

In lots of traffic, or at nighttime (particularly, on the freeway) when people often tap their brakes often, it's really easy to mistake it for a turn signal.



I don't see the problem. Many European and Asian countries mandate it and mandating it would just be like everyone else.

[giant_mtb]

How do you mistake 3 lights lighting up at the same time for a turn signal?

[Raza]

How about we focus on getting people to use their turn signals properly first, and then see how the accident stats look?

[CALL_911]

How do you mistake 3 lights lighting up at the same time for a turn signal?

No kidding, that center brake light is the giveaway!

[2o6]

How do you mistake 3 lights lighting up at the same time for a turn signal?

Read my post: WHEN THERE IS A LOT OF TRAFFIC, OR AT NIGHT; PARTICULARLY ON THE FREEWAY.



You're a terrible driver if you're only looking at the car directly in front of you.


Add to the fact that many manufacturers often use the same lamp for signaling as well as braking, it can get very confusing.

No kidding, that center brake light is the giveaway!

What if you can't see it? i.e, another car is blocking it. Besides, I'm talking about people that tap their brakes intermittently, not regular braking. An amber signal is a lot easier and quicker for my brain to distinguish.

[ifcar]

No kidding, that center brake light is the giveaway!

Either it's commonly burned out or I'm personally behind a disproportionate number of cars where it's burned out.

[2o6]

Either it's commonly burned out or I'm personally behind a disproportionate number of cars where it's burned out.

Or simply no one is looking for it, and an amber signal is easier to distinguish and see.

[giant_mtb]

No need to get testy.  I just don't see how you can fuck it up so badly as to call it an annoyance and an easy mistake.  I cannot recall the last time it happened to me.

OHNOES, WAS THAT HIS BRAKES OR HIS TURN SIGNAL?!

How do you fuck that up?  Especially at night when lights look BRIGHT and should be EASIER to distinguish...

[Raza]

Either it's commonly burned out or I'm personally behind a disproportionate number of cars where it's burned out.

Don't you live in DC?