What about blinking tail lights like in Europe? While we are making some change, lets go ahead and make some change.

they are also 5% gayer!

I think that the best color combination for rear lights looks best when it is just red and white. Red, white, and orange looks lika A$$. Unless there red area, along wit a chrome housing with orange led’s, not bulbs!

Why not red and white? There’s a clear distinction…

What does it matter? Nobody uses the frickin’ things anyway…

Oh, and it would require much more than a change in lens colour. The wiring harness of the car would have to be changed as well, to bring a “brake only” signal to the rear, so you could have park, stop and turn in each tail light (cars with red lights usually use park and stop/turn which are combined into one circuit). It would also require an additional bulb on each side, and of course a place to put that bulb.

Be interesting to see what this does to the Mustang’s sequential tail lights…

TChicken. You are correct with your first post!

As for the Stang, it could look pretty cool. Amber LEDs in the center parts of the lights, or have clear lenses with Red LEDs for Brakes, and Amber ones for turns.

I liked the look of the Euro Spec Tail Lights on the 2001’s etc. There was an amber lens in the square next to the clear back-up light. They also did that on some of the Rousch Mustangs.

And most cars with All Red Tail Lights would have to be redesigned a whole lot more than the NTSC thinks.

While they’re at it… can they get rid of the sequential turn signals on the 2010 Mustangs? All I want to do is stare at them… and not pay any attention to the fact that the car is actually stopping/turning. It’s a complete distraction.

…I have the same problem with big breasted women.

TChicken/artmark….true very true…amber lights they say may prevent more accidents, but what’s the difference in white, amber, red or what ever color turn signals if no one uses them…? many automotive companies will have to go and redesign their cars lighting system entirely just to appease this…much like when the 3rd brake light was mandatory (But that was a smart one). It’s going to cost motor companies more money to fix and change everything…money none of them really have.

*Most accidents can be prevented by actually using your turn signals.

has anyone seen that movie “Shoot ‘em Up”? There is a scene when Clive Owen steals a Silver BMW and gets starts driving behind a Mercedes. If you haven’t seen or want to watch it, for this topic, i would recommend that scene at least….

The NTSC knows full well they are full of it, but they don’t care. If they can make people believe it’s a simple, cheap update then people will demand it immediately. In a time where the automakers are suffering, they are weary of publicly piling even more regulatory costs onto the industry.

Amber is the way to go. If you have to try to figure out if car in front of you making a turn or stopping when two out of tree brake lights not working and this time could mean whether one will have collision or time to react and stop. I liked idea implemented on E36 BMW ///M3. Lights were red and clear, but they had under clear cover amber bulbs. You can see difference between two types here: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3397/3478094188_bcaff06039.jpg?v=0

The mandate to amber turn signals on new cars wouldn’t be that hard. Some US cars that are imported to Australia already have them as it is mandated there. The current Ford Mustang is one of them.

One thing ford still cant get right is turn signals.

Couldn’t agree more. Red turn signals drive me nuts, especially if it’s a light that is completely shared with the brake lights – sometimes you’ll be behind an old pickup with one taillight out, and the other one is blinking – is that a turn signal or is he tapping the brakes?

Let’s make them all yellow, just like at the front. We wouldn’t put red signals at the front would we?

Incidentally, most of these rules get applied years later than the mandate is given – so claims about a “redesign required” are overstating it a bit. A rule like this might apply for say 2012 or 2013 models, most vehicles will go through at least a minor refresh by then (sorry, Ford Ranger) – and taillights are often one of the styling elements that often get changed at refresh timing.

Like many have said this is is the way it is in europe. I personally like amber signal due to the fact that you can see it better than red. Also it might be cheaper for them to just design one set of taillights instead of two.

Both my cars have red turn lights that aren’t shared with brake lights, and I don’t see a problem with that. However I would go so far as to make a distinction between amber turn lights that are always amber and just light up, and those clear lights that just light up amber when they blink, like the one in that photo. I was behind one of those clear ones yesterday in the late afternoon when the sun was shining directly onto the back of the car in front and it was really hard to tell his blinker was on. Either way though, if you’re not a moron then you’re not going to merge into a lane that someone is always occupying, nor will you neglect to notice someone moving into your lane right in front of you.

If they’re going to throw mandates around to make cars more visible, lets force everyone to get daytime running lights because at least half the people around D.C. don’t have the brains to turn lights on during the day if it’s raining. I’m sorry but your dirty silver/grey car sort of blends in with the grey road and grey sky in my rear view mirror, and passing the law that your headlights must be on any time your wipers are on didn’t seem to get through your thick skull..

That’s a fantastic idea. Clear turn signal lenses are just boy racer ignorant nonsense, and its just time to clear that junk off the road. And red just confuses the issue. Amber all the way!!!

A great majority of cars already sold in the US have amber turn signals, and those that don’t, probably have a Euro-spec version that does, therefore no problem. It does make a huge difference, and the all-reds drive me nuts.

As for usage, it is required in all 50 states always. However, I noticed that in most rural areas, and some urban ones (miami in particular) nobody uses them, and that is stupid, and the cops need to enforce that. Around chicago, just about everbody uses them, always. Those that don’t, i wish them to crash into a brick wall and die.

Cant believe USA is so backward and hasnt caught up wit world…AMBER is for signaling,duh!

Uh… Many US Cars built for the US don’t have amber – for example the Impala only has one buld for braking and turn signal, they would have to change the entire rear light assembly making it cost some more money. some other GM’s are that way too. Many VW’s use red too, but they have european couterparts that have Amber color built in.

My Cobalt has integrated stop/turn lights. Of course I actually use my signals… and make sure that all my lights are working properly.

But in all seriousness… what good is mandating amber signals if people don’t use them? What good is mandating lights at all if people don’t replace them when they burn out? Look at backward states like South Carolina… with no kind of automotive safety inspection at all. At least here in NC you get checked once a year… admittedly a long time to go with a light burnt out, but I see it all the time.

Why in the hell is the government telling car companies what color the turn signals have to be?

Am I the only one who thinks this is crazy?

I bet you we’d have a bunch more car companies that would exist if we didn’t have the NHTSA, EPA, and all the other car regulating agencies… There would be a lot more competition in the car industry and cars would be better and cost less if our government got out of regulating the car industry on behalf of the giant car companies.

Today, only the big boys can afford the regulations… The little guy who wants to make and sell cars from his garage can’t afford the regulations… The little guy has no chance of competing against the government protected car companies… It’s a huge scam and we lose out because of it.

Funny thing is, the only vehicles I was ever rear-ended in both had amber turn signals. The first (and most serious) was in a Volvo 740 (which also had rear fog lights), and the second was a Nissan Maxima. The Volvo accident was caused by a guy talking on a cell phone and veering into my lane at approximately 50MPH (I was stopped in a left turning lane waiting for an opportunity to turn). I could have had strobe lights on the car and he wouldn’t have noticed. The Maxima accident I’m not sure what caused that, though I recon old age had something to do with it (the old bugger that hit me was about 90). Thankfully he was driving like your typical 90 year old (reeeeeeaaaaaaaaally slow) and there was no damage/injuries. He claimed he didn’t see me, though it wasn’t much of an excuse since I was sitting at a stop sign – if he really hadn’t seen me, or if I hadn’t been there, he’d have driven right into cross traffic.

I’ve nothing against amber turn signals, but this is nothing except the NHTSA trying to make itself useful. You could probably count the number of accidents caused by red turn signals on one hand. Even the “I confuse it with brake lights” argument doesn’t hold water, because if you see brake lights you know there’s something in front of you to avoid, and you’re supposed to wait until it gets out of your way (regardless the direction it’s turning) before going around it.

…and as I said earlier, this would require more than a simple cosmetic change. It would require a new tail light harness from the turn signal and brake switches back. Truthfully, the suggestion somebody else had earlier about making DRL mandatory would make a hell of a lot more sense. DRL have been mandatory in Canada since 1990, Sweden since the mid 80’s, and in many other countries as well. Automakers would probably save money installing them in all vehicles rather than just ones for smaller markets.

Yes, thinbev, because cars were so much better before regulations came in. Who needs safety glass, windshields, seat belts, collapsible steering columns, split braking systems, etc anyway?
[/sarcasm]

A much smarter approach would be for the NHTSA to work with European and Japanese regulators to try to create a single set of standards, so that a car sold in Europe can be sold in USA and vice-versa.

Agreed with Thunder Chicken. I’d even say the USA should adopt the ECE regulations. Japan has already started to abandon Japanese-specific regulations in favor of the ECE regs. There may have been a time decades ago where the NHTSA regs were superior, but that’s tougher to argue these days. The fact that the NHTSA is still debating something that has been standard every else in the world for decades.

Amber lights all the way. What I really wish they’d do is add the side markers (the ones that are integrated in the mirror for example, or below the A pillar) that are also standard everywhere else in the world. Maybe next century!

realy people? you dont need orange lenses for a blinker. both cars at my house have orange bulbs with a clear lens. one car has a thing so you cant see the light bulb. i say go with it! sharing the blinker and brake light can be very confusing

Thunder Chicken,
you bring up a good point!

Instead of requiring amber orange lights, which only saves “5%”, how about you ban cellphone use while driving!!!! Because I bet the driver who isn’t on the phone will be paying attention even if all your lights are on! Can’t say the same thing for women who talk on the phone though….they just keep on talking and talking…just pray to god she doesn’t start arguing because that’s like driving a 2 ton hammer on 4 wheels!

One trend I’ve noticed is that most US makers used to include amber rear signals, but in successive generations of the same vehicle the lights have been simplified and combined with the red brake/tails. So at one point, the vehicles actually HAD the wiring harness necessary, but the manufacturer just cheaped out and dumbed it down. Ford Taurus, Ranger, Focus are the most obvuious offenders.. but plenty of GM and Chrysler vehicles have suffered the same fate.

I would really hate if my corvette had those European tail lights with the amber ovals inside the normal taillights. I can see how in a brief moment you could confuse a blinking red light with someone braking, but how does that change your reaction? If you think someone up ahead is turning, then obviously you’re going to slow down. If you think someone up ahead is pumping the brakes, aren’t you still going to slow down, or would you just speed ahead and hope they stop braking and get up to speed before you ram them?

I thought in Europe the turn signals are white and not amber, or is that just for the side turn lights. Those are mandatory and while here in the US they are looked at add on ricer accessories, they are becoming more common and thus are being looked at as functional.

Now if only we could get rid of all those losers in full size trucks who think FOUR HID LIGHTS, for headlamps and fogs are necessary…

I think it should be common practice, but not mandatory. Heck, while they’re at it, why not have us put red on the left and green on the right?

There really aren’t that many domestic-brand cars with amber turn signals in the US…most of the other brands have their whole lineup amber-lighted.

Though I would hate to see a Camaro or Corvette with amber lamps.

UAHOOO finally they open theres eyes everywere in the world is amber only in north america are red because they are closed meindet

Yellow sucks!

Mech0T1: right on! You nailed it. That reason alone is worth the change.

“Though I would hate to see a Camaro or Corvette with amber lamps.”

They can do this without being blatently obvious. Amber LEDs behind clear covers should do nicely.

some auto companies, like BMW, used to use amber turn signals. but on more recent models theyve switched to red turn signals in the rear, which is completly retarted. hopefully this passes, amber signals are the only color that makes sense.