Topic: Rear Turn Signal lights

[Bullet Blue]

After watching Motoring 2005's review of the Subie B9 Tribeca and witnessing a car accicent (fender bender) yesterday I decided to post my thoughts on rear turn signals.

Mainly my problem is the red coloured turn signals. Why do manufacturers use them? Orange, or amber turn signals are clearly more visable whether its from a distance or closer up. In my opinion the turn signals should be the same colour as the front turn signals. The turn signals should not be the same colour of the break lights, that makes them harder to see, especially when driving at night. Motoring 2005 critisized the B9 Tribeca for using rather small rear red turn signals, and i completely agree. Yesterday, I saw a woman rear end a Dodge Caravan. I got out to see if everyone was ok and the woman told me that she didn't see the caravan signal. I immediately thought of what Motoring 2005 had said about the Tribeca and started to think of all the cars currently out that have red turn signals. There are a lot. I think the worst is when a car starts out with amber coloured signals, then when the car is facelifted or updated the manufacturers change from amber to red. Examples are the Nissan Altima, Acura RSX, Honda Accord (although I believe the 06 accord has amber signals again),  Toyota Sienna, new BMW 3 series, new VW Jetta and so on.

I think that if Canada makes DRL's mandatory on all our vehicles for safety purposes, they should do the same with Orange/Amber coloured turn signals. I noticed that in parts of europe, almost all the cars, if not all, had orange turn signals. Is it mandatory in other areas? Comments/suggestions/counter arguments anyone?

[wing]

I've noticed it seems to be mostly the domestics (historically) that used the same light for brake and turn signal in order to save money on parts.  As all that is required is a relay rather than another bulb / socket etc etc.

Now other manufacturers are following.  I agree i want yellow signals on my cars, both my cars currently have seperate bulbs.

Most Euro cars have separate signals, is it mandatory in EU?

[safristi]

 ORANGE a PEEL's ta me  too......also those pulsating red rear lights on the F1 cars at Spa F1 on the weekend would be useful in a downpour,white-out or Fog situation...VISIBILITY is job #1 of lighting.......now where did I put my arsehole......!!!!

[Shnak]

The new Jetta uses the brake lights for its turn signals too... definitely a big disapointment...

[erich]

It seems that light standards are different here and EU.
Over there rear lights grew from single small red lamps to clearly visible separate ones for each function (position, turn, brake). Here they remained about the same and worse, cars like my wife's Civic have converted to them in the local version.
In Europe they also have small turn signals on the fenders (see VW's) and rear fog lights - one single powerful red light on the left side. They are very useful in fog, but a real nuisance when left on on a clear night.

[articsteve]

I think red turn signals suck as well. But most buyers probably don't even notice.  

[ovr50]

I vote for Orange but the Irish police are picking on me....

[Bullet Blue]

I've noticed it seems to be mostly the domestics (historically) that used the same light for brake and turn signal in order to save money on parts. As all that is required is a relay rather than another bulb / socket etc etc.

True enough. The one auto manufacturer that comes to mind for this is Ford. To my memory, I think Ford doubles the break light with the turn signal on all its models. Does this not mean that if you have a burnt out break light, then you will lose your signal light as well?

[Drivesideways]

Hmmm...Ovr's current avatar should be able to "indicate" that. 

[bmorton]

Funny, this is one of my pet peeves too and I was thinking about it the other day reading the latest C&D and its test of the new Ford Fusion. Ford seems to be the worst offender and from what I could tell from the Fusion pictures, it's no exception: one red bulb on either side is the brake, turn signal and taillight. Apart from the Escape, this seems to be the Ford rule across the board.

More and more manufacturers seem to be adopting red turn signals because supposedly it makes the rear of the car look "cleaner" from a design point of view. Mazda, Toyota, VW, Audi, Honda...in the past you could count on these manufacturers to use amber turn signals even if the domestics didn't, but not anymore. Even if the red turn signal does use a separate bulb, often it's located right next to the brake light, making it harder to distinguish than a separate colour would be.

[Drivesideways]

With the move to LEDs I would think it would be easier to integrate the three elements and maintain a sense of style.  How expensive could it be?  Every new large truck seems to have those blindingly bright LEDs...mind you they're pretty basic in shape, but c'mon.

[tenpenny]

What I find strange is that, since I dont' know when, cars in Canada are equipped with this third, high mounted brake light....which isn't affected by any turn signal functions....so why are people having so much trouble?  Is it simply because...they don't LOOK???/

[si]

I completely agree.

My biggest annoyance are brake lights that = turn signals.




Who can we talk to at Transport Canada to get something changed?

[Turbo Bob]

I think it is law in the UK (possibly EU too) to have orange indicators, You'd think it's not saving that much money to have to produce two different cars, why not just make them all have orange indicators?
 

[safristi]

I think we need a pole on light standards.......!!!! ...".Brake"...(the next fecker that spells it break!!!!) Dancin' was just a FAD....WDF!! MY head is SPINNIN"....... ..STOP in the name orf Lurv.......I see yer headlites.......

   Indicators...? LIKE IQ tests......which is the next move in this sequence...car stops at RED light....I'm  behind on Phone wif Cathy*(HOT)....Pub 2 miles down tha road...Cor !!!!!....SMASHING.......sorry BOB  yer Mensa application
was denied..ya swallowed the PLUM in yer throat

[Bullet Blue]

I think it is law in the UK (possibly EU too) to have orange indicators, You'd think it's not saving that much money to have to produce two different cars, why not just make them all have orange indicators?
 

That's pretty much what I figured. It seems everyone else shares the same opinion as I do on the matter. Maybe the gov't will do something about it. Some of th Euro brands such as Volvo, Saab and Mercedes-Benz have orange turn signals on all their models. But, for other euro manufacturers like VW/Audi have red on their North American models. Why? Was there a study done that said that North Americans prefer red to orange? Why make the effort to specifically change the colour of a signal light?

[AVToller]

I don't know what all the fuss is about. Almost no one uses them in Port Alberni, so the colour is pretty irrelevant. BTW, aren't turn signals "optional equipment"? 

[s60]

Good thread Bullit,i agree that allowing rear signal light to be the same colour as brake And running lights is unsafe.

Here are the euro restrictions -. Lighting  - must have at least one rear fog light mounted on the driver's side; turn signals must be amber front and back, and the vehicle must be fitted with side repeater indicators. Front side (parking) lights must be white. If side markers are fitted they must be orange front and rear - before 1993 these were illegal in Germany, but legal elsewhere in Europe. For the UK, headlamps must dip to the left as opposed to the right and in addition, they must conform to the UK goverhment's British Standard (BS) code.

[tpl]

Its been said before... from a previous thread on getting stuck in the flood


"City I know what you mean exactly. When I came to Can I could not understand ( and still dont) why the Gov allows the rear flashers to be red and even worse, allows them to use the same bulb as the brake lights.  It is a deeply stupid rule.

If rear flashers HAD to be amber then it would be a lot less confusing for all.

Police forces in NA are IMHO in a position to specify to their vehicle suppliers that rear flashers have to be amber.... the mfrs would undoubtedly do that rather than lose the police car market to Volvo(!)

As for the rear fog on some cars.  There must be only one and I think it must be spacially separate from the brake light bulb in euroland
"

[tenpenny]

On the drive home, I watched the other cars around me...so it was a wide variety of makes/models/years.  Yes, a significant number have red turn signals.  But, when the car is stopped with the turn signal on, you have three red brake lights and one flashing red turn signal.

How is this confusing?  The option is, you have three red brake lights and one amber flashing turn signal.  How is this less confusing? I'm serious here.  How could you misunderstand these?