Recent SUV 5 mph crash tests (Pacifica ranked poorly)

Who cares. The fact is, if someone is too stupid to see a brake light
mounted on the bumper, they shouldn't be driving. Now we are
discussing where brake lights should be for the center mounted light.

Sheesh.

I understand how people can feel we should be as safe as possible, but
people need to take responsibility. If you are unable to see a normal
light, having those normal lights all in the same location won't help.

 

They sure have. They took the classic "British Expedition" (no pun intended)
look and turned it into a slab-sided detail-free refridgerator-on-wheels that
looks like it's bodied in cheap sheet plastic.

--Aardwolf.

 

The REAR FOGS are a great idea, but the problem is, MOST people
drive with their fogs on anytime thier headlights are on, so that
BRIGHT LIGHT on the back is just a distraction, not a safty item it
would be in bad weather.

 

Who cares. The fact is, if someone is too stupid to see a brake light

Amen brother, I focus on the car! I've always done that and in most cases
the vehicle in front of that too. Comes from many miles of driving 18
wheelers where I had a birds eye view and was able to see many vehicles
ahead. I've trained myself to be aware of more than what's directly in
front. Besides, lights these days are very confusing. Night time is a
different story.

 

But it will if you are.

--Aardwolf.

 

Who cares. The fact is, if someone is too stupid to see a brake light

At first I thought they were both visually obtrusive and an example of
the Nanny State. However, big-city commuting convinced me to not only
accept them but retrofit them to my own older cars. I think they
offer four advantages:

* They help resolve ambiguity in heavy traffic with their unique if
not quite standard location. No more catching a glimpse of something
red and wondering if it is a brake light, a turn signal, a
taillight...

* They arguably attract more attention with the sudden appearance of
light in a new place than you could with the brightening of a lamp
that is already on.

* They can often be seen from further away in thick traffic, allowing
you to learn sooner that slowing or stopping is imminent.

* And (human nature being what it is) they give you *some* chance at a
clue when a driver ahead has some of his tail lamps burned out, busted
out, or miswired.


In other words, you get better knowledge sooner about things that will
soon involve you.

Cheers,
--Joe

 

Despite the name, the height of the CHMSL is not particularly
standardized.

 

I take it you mean "it will help to have the lights in one location if
you are able to see a normal light".

I fail to see how forcing all manufacturers to locate lights at the
exact same spot in space in relation to a vehicle is going to help at
all.

Should cars all mount their brake lights on posts to make them the
same height as trucks, or should trucks have them all very low?

 

[SNIP]
|
| Should cars all mount their brake lights on posts to make them the
| same height as trucks, or should trucks have them all very low?

I vote for a auto system. When a big rig is following behind, a sonar system
would automatically extends a motorized retractable center pole with a brake
light on the end of it to the approximate height of the driver's windshield of
the rig. Maybe we should make it strobe too like some in a separate
thread suggest. I'm sure we have the technology to make this happen. Heck,
maybe J.C. Whitney has a aftermarket unit that would do the trick!