Comments on: Are flashing brake lights a good idea?

By: Lee

Lee — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 06:33:03 +0000

On some motorcycles, the headlight(s) have some sort of flickering effect that makes them more noticable at night. Instead of having brake lights blink when coming to a hard stop, just make them “flicker” and throw in BMW’s system of varying intensity lights.

By: Cho

Cho — Sun, 12 Mar 2006 12:04:51 +0000

In most big cities and towns we’re seeing the red stobes for the traffic lights. It’s eye catching and if it will reduce accidents ‘m all for it.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 22:36:23 +0000

Yes

By: JW

JW — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 05:24:11 +0000

I think its stupid….Ive seen some cars with a flashing 3rd light and its annoying!

By: bradk

bradk — Sat, 18 Feb 2006 18:00:33 +0000

I think it would be a good idea if a very standardized application of the process were installed. If car ‘x’ is at 80% of it’s braking capability (perhaps if the ABS is asked to engage) then a ‘y’ result will happen with the rear tail-light cluster.

A flashing of the amber hazards instead is a pretty good idea, since an amber flash from a car usually indicates some kind of change in direction you’re going to need to look out for, or it’s hazard signal.

So many people ride their brakes or use their brakes needlessly when actually a moment of non-response to the situation would be most appropriate, that we largely dismiss a constant red light in front of us unless we also are able to judge the distance that we’re closing on that car as well to see it as a threat.

Steadily increasing flash rates for the rear lamps based on brake use would just dumb people down, and as suggested above, cause a few seizures.

Consider also that none of our turn signal blinkers currently flash at the same rate as the car next to us, so if any kind of rate-of-flash=loss-of-speed system would have to be based on a fixed value for the rate of deceleration, not based on the percentage of braking power being used by any given car. (that way you wouldn’t mistake the ‘brake warning’ of a ’98 Corolla meaning the same thing as the ‘brake-warning’ of an ’06 Z06 in front of you. If you see that Z06 brake warning ahead of you, you’d better settle up your affairs FAST)

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 23:23:50 +0000

This is not a new idea. There was a similar system available years ago as an add on for motorcycles. The light would flash faster if the brakes were applied harder. It was an excellent idea, but it did not catch on because of silly government regulations. I forget the name of the company that was trying to promote this idea, but there was research done at the time that showed a dramatic reduction in rear end collisions, which was a very good thing for motorcycle riders. It seems like government regulators are always slow to catch on.

By: Downshift

Downshift — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 18:33:44 +0000

I’m pretty sure that the original mandate for the center high-mounted stop lamp (CHMSL) arose after some guy proposed a variably blinking light (like the MB lights), but the NHTSA wouldn’t go for the whole package. They settled on the single, regular light.

Wikipedia has an interesting articles about the CHSML, though it doesn’t have anything about what I recall is the origin of the light: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_high-mounted_stop_lamp.

By: Chris G.

Chris G. — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 17:20:27 +0000

Why not just have the amber hazard lights (if your car is so equipped) activate if a panic stop is sensed?

By: Nuno

Nuno — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 14:26:08 +0000

This might not be that bad of an idea, people always seem to pay more attention to flashing lights as opposed to steady lights. But if the lights have different flashing patterns, it might get confusing as to what exactly the car is doing, not to mention, some people might get confused and think the car is going to turn or something.

By: paperycow

paperycow — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 13:17:39 +0000

I’m not sure about the idea of blinking brakes lights. I like BMW’s idea of showing more lights and increasing intensity on hard brakes. I think government is correct in being reluctant, because if they let it happened, then they leave them selves open for later problems if there is an increase in accidents.

As for the amber blinkers…maybe you should pay more attention. I think the red blinkers are fine, and quite acceptable for the european models. I think the blinkers are a lot better than amber.

By: Brian Blank

Brian Blank — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 08:58:00 +0000

I think it’s a great idea. As a motorcycle rider, nearly every time I come to a stop, I flash my brakelights to let people following me know my intentions. I have also seen cars with custom 3rd brake lights that flash and I really appreciated the extra notice.

By: Paul Banionis

Paul Banionis — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 07:52:18 +0000

I think it’s a great idea. I often see cars that have stopped suddenly and flash their lights or hazards to catch the attention of other drivers. Comments about the system being ineffective may have some truth but Mercedes’ system works under “hard” braking, not normal braking.

On the subject of amber turn signals, I agree with the last post. I have an ’01 Acura Integra with all red taillight lenses. I immediately bought a set of pre ’97 taillights that have amber signals and installed them. I believe it’s much safer and more visible than red turn signals that get lost in a sea of flashing red lights in traffic. They’re basically ineffective. People associate red with stopping, not lane changes. I see more and more red turn signals on more modern cars. I believe manufacturers are using the same color plastic to save costs at the expense of safety. What’s even worse, are those all clear taillights that are showing up. Totally useless and they look cheesy.

By: bastula

bastula — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 03:38:10 +0000

I think the NHTSA should first make amber flashing turn signals a requirement before allowing something like this to compete with our infamous American red turn signals.

By: madcapp

madcapp — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 02:22:45 +0000

No, its not a good idea. Toyota already tried this with a flashing third brake light and its annoying as hell when you are behind one, and it distracts you. This is just like the Mercedes brake-by-wire nonsense that lasted a alarmingly short while in the S class. Its ludicrous that they are relentlessly pursuing such a transparently bad idea. Figure out a way to improve your sagging reliability and build quality as of late Mercedes.

By: jim sanders

jim sanders — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 02:14:48 +0000

Flash = emergency lights. I think it will cause the tailing vehicle driver to behave more appropriately, pay attention and slow down. People already slow down nowadays to cars using emergency blinking lights.

Steady red light: For the driver behind, staring at a steady red light, it’s often difficult to tell the speed of the car ahead, or its change in speed…
the tailing driver will not brake until he’s very close to the emergency stopping car. Accident prone.

I think the flashing lights is a good idea.

By: JSP

JSP — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 02:06:53 +0000

I think this is a great idea. BMW already has Brake Force Display which lights up additional brake lights during hard stops.

By: NIK

NIK — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 01:27:11 +0000

i think it’s an excellent idea but MB needs to let people know about it. otherwise, its not of much use. ain’t nobody gonna knows a rapid blinking braking light means an emergency brake.

By: Heydn

Heydn — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 01:14:18 +0000

I don’t know if this would present a large problem, but I wonder if intense, flashing LED lights could cause other drivers to have seizures.