Topic: NHTSA considering amber turn signal mandate

[Leviathan]

I liked how Volkswagon did the (a?) Jetta which had the look of all red except when the signal was on and then amber would come through. Maybe it is an age/eye sight thing but I find that 5% figure they threw about as waaaay too low.

[tenpenny]

Last Friday, we had to drive about 5 hrs to get to a soccer tournament.  I drove for 45 min through the heaviest sustained rain that I've ever had to drive in.  From that experience, I can suggest something more important than amber signal lights:  cars that don't light up taillights with DRLs should be eliminated.

[Ice]

Last Friday, we had to drive about 5 hrs to get to a soccer tournament.  I drove for 45 min through the heaviest sustained rain that I've ever had to drive in.  From that experience, I can suggest something more important than amber signal lights:  cars that don't light up taillights with DRLs should be eliminated.

Thats another good one.  I wonder if my car does that actually....hrrmmmm....at least the Corolla has these two giant reflectors on the bumper that reflect everything.

[vdk]

Last Friday, we had to drive about 5 hrs to get to a soccer tournament.  I drove for 45 min through the heaviest sustained rain that I've ever had to drive in.  From that experience, I can suggest something more important than amber signal lights:  cars that don't light up taillights with DRLs should be eliminated.

Thats another good one.  I wonder if my car does that actually....hrrmmmm....at least the Corolla has these two giant reflectors on the bumper that reflect everything.

Most Toyotas these days have the backlit instrument panel (I forget what it's called exactly), that is always on -- day and night, lights on and off. Well that creates problems when drivers use the DLR at night, without realizing, and the taillights are not lit up.

[quadzilla]

I drove for 45 min through the heaviest sustained rain that I've ever had to drive in.  From that experience, I can suggest something more important than amber signal lights:  cars that don't light up taillights with DRLs should be eliminated.

There should be a law that if you need to use your wipers, you lights MUST be on. If I remember correctly, some states actually have this law. I'm shocked that they law makers don't make these for easy cash grabs.

Its a shame that we have to have our cars turn on all the lights because the driver is just too stupid to do this. The more I think about this, how about every time somebody is caught without their lights on we cut off a finger (remember Creepshow and the stop smoking part). This might help people remember.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Last Friday, we had to drive about 5 hrs to get to a soccer tournament.  I drove for 45 min through the heaviest sustained rain that I've ever had to drive in.  From that experience, I can suggest something more important than amber signal lights:  cars that don't light up taillights with DRLs should be eliminated.

Thats another good one.  I wonder if my car does that actually....hrrmmmm....at least the Corolla has these two giant reflectors on the bumper that reflect everything.

Most Toyotas these days have the backlit instrument panel (I forget what it's called exactly), that is always on -- day and night, lights on and off. Well that creates problems when drivers use the DLR at night, without realizing, and the taillights are not lit up.

"Optitron" I think. And yes, I've driven by one of them and it's bright inside but only the DRLs are on. Bafoons. At least Toyota equips many models with auto headlamps now.

[Bullet Blue]

It's about effing time. One of my pet peeves is red turn signals or brake lights that double as turn signals. There's a reason why it's mandated in Europe and NZ. 

[The Mighty Duck]

I liked how Volkswagon did the (a?) Jetta which had the look of all red except when the signal was on and then amber would come through. Maybe it is an age/eye sight thing but I find that 5% figure they threw about as waaaay too low.

You can get bulbs that look chrome but flash amber (very popular with the tuner scene).  I wonder if that Jetta used a similar scheme...

[safristi]

..Rub a Pumpkin on yer REAR.......................and front turn lites...............first one that defines wot A LERT is wins  a BULB...........a TWO LIP...............one   Aaawwww

[Winklovic]

I'm happy that my Sebring has amber turn signals.  I'd like to make the 'Tail/Stop light' combo a Stop light only, though, so that lamp would go from "off" to "full on" when braking.

[tenpenny]

Anyone remember the Cougar, with the fancy sequential rear signal lights? 

[UmroAyyar]

Last Friday, we had to drive about 5 hrs to get to a soccer tournament.  I drove for 45 min through the heaviest sustained rain that I've ever had to drive in.  From that experience, I can suggest something more important than amber signal lights:  cars that don't light up taillights with DRLs should be eliminated.

Thats another good one.  I wonder if my car does that actually....hrrmmmm....at least the Corolla has these two giant reflectors on the bumper that reflect everything.

Most Toyotas these days have the backlit instrument panel (I forget what it's called exactly), that is always on -- day and night, lights on and off. Well that creates problems when drivers use the DLR at night, without realizing, and the taillights are not lit up.

"Optitron" I think. And yes, I've driven by one of them and it's bright inside but only the DRLs are on. Bafoons. At least Toyota equips many models with auto headlamps now.

The Optitron backlit instrument panel changes intensity quite visibly when the headlight switch is in 'Auto' position and it turns on the headlights, similar to when headlights are switched on manually.

[Bullet Blue]

I'm happy that my Sebring has amber turn signals.  I'd like to make the 'Tail/Stop light' combo a Stop light only, though, so that lamp would go from "off" to "full on" when braking.

All Volvos have this 

[Wolverine]

Anyone remember the Cougar, with the fancy sequential rear signal lights? 

They are back on the new Mustang.

As for amber lights, they are mandatory here in Brazil, but imported cars are allowed to use different types of turn lights, like the Fusion.

[weebl]

The Optitron backlit instrument panel changes intensity quite visibly when the headlight switch is in 'Auto' position and it turns on the headlights, similar to when headlights are switched on manually.

Not on our 2006 Sienna, same intensity unless you use the dimmer switch to manually adjust.  The only interor side is a little green indicator that comes on to signal that the headlights are on, and it's almost unnoticeable.  The first month or so with our van, my wife and I would catch ourselves in twilight without having turned on the headlights, usually within a few blocks.  We've gotten used to it now.  Many people, judging from the vehicles on the road, haven't though.

WIth DRL's, there are so many "standards" that are acceptable, it's laughable, as they might as well not have them.  I'm sure there are more, but there seem to be the following systems:  high beam bulb/filament on reduced power (most common), bright front markers only (second most common), full headlight & all markers (seemed to be used only on some of the very first DRL cars in Canada), fog/driving light only, low beam bulb/filament on full power only (without markers), the Chrysler "winking" system with any of those options which turns off the DRL on the side with the turn signal on.  Seems quite stupid to me.  And once an owner takes delivery of a car, they are free to disable it, as the law only requires that the veichle be equipped from the factory that way.

As for the amber rear turn signals.  About time!  I would also like to see turn signals visible from the side of a vehicle (Euro style - either on the fender or side mirrors).

That said, I'm counting on NHTSA doing absolutely nothing once everything is said and done.

[Ontariodriver]

When I first started driving in NA...it took me while to get used to red light turn signals....are the breaking or are they turning.driving so automatic...No mistake with amber been around in most parts of the world for years accept here....

[tpl]

The Optitron backlit instrument panel changes intensity quite visibly when the headlight switch is in 'Auto' position and it turns on the headlights, similar to when headlights are switched on manually.

Not on our 2006 Sienna, same intensity unless you use the dimmer switch to manually adjust.  The only interor side is a little green indicator that comes on to signal that the headlights are on, and it's almost unnoticeable.  The first month or so with our van, my wife and I would catch ourselves in twilight without having turned on the headlights, usually within a few blocks.  We've gotten used to it now.  Many people, judging from the vehicles on the road, haven't though.

WIth DRL's, there are so many "standards" that are acceptable, it's laughable, as they might as well not have them.  I'm sure there are more, but there seem to be the following systems:  high beam bulb/filament on reduced power (most common), bright front markers only (second most common), full headlight & all markers (seemed to be used only on some of the very first DRL cars in Canada), fog/driving light only, low beam bulb/filament on full power only (without markers), the Chrysler "winking" system with any of those options which turns off the DRL on the side with the turn signal on.  Seems quite stupid to me.  And once an owner takes delivery of a car, they are free to disable it, as the law only requires that the veichle be equipped from the factory that way.

As for the amber rear turn signals.  About time!  I would also like to see turn signals visible from the side of a vehicle (Euro style - either on the fender or side mirrors).

That said, I'm counting on NHTSA doing absolutely nothing once everything is said and done.

The simplest solution for the drl thing would involve just a new headlight switch.
rest position  = all markers + headlights all the time the engine is running ( not just ignition on)
2nd position. = all markers and headlights on with the engine NOT running plus a beeper to stop people flattening the battery.

any other settings would require a device plugged into the OBD socket for testing purposes.

Canada accepts the Euro  amber rears plus side turn signals but has not made it mandatory... supposedly for fear of upsetting the big 3.

[safristi]

..the BIG 3 have been upset,upendended & 2 of them UP-Financed ...so who cares wot they say.................if they can replace the CEO and force CAFE down their throats...how hard is amber and lighting fer the 21St Century.....beep   beep.............TURN RIGHT in 200 metres...now U see my signal NOW U don't..................