btl@mtunf.UUCP (Bernie Lee) (01/09/86)
*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** As we all know, all 1986 cars that are sold in the US will have a third brake light to prevent rear end type of accidents. Initially, I did not care about them one way or the other. After seeing some cars with them, I have a few question and gripes about them. 1. Some cars have them in the strangest places, ex: the new Mercedes coupe has it mounted on top of the trunk. I personally think is ugly, especially on a car with that kind of great looks. Why didn't they put it on the rear deck inside the cabinet? Worse yet, the 86 Camaros has it on top of the rear hatch. Aside from looks and glass replacement cost, it is right in your line of sight. Combining the location and brightness of the light, you are blinded by them at night. You can neither see through the window of the car in front of you nor anything else surrounding you. Therefore takes away the time that you need to survey the situation and perform an escape from the car behind you that appear to be ignorant about the situation on hand. 2. Are there any regulation governing the location and brightness of these lights? I was in a traffic jam the other night with a car that has one of those light right in front of me. It is an older car, so, I assume it must be an add-on. It was so bright and annoying after five minutes that I began to look away from where my attention should be, the front of my car. After ten minutes I felt as though I been driving for four hours on a dark road. Has anyone done any research on the effectiveness of these lights vs. eye fatigue? 3. I read a comment the other day that if someone has one of those semi-functioning brake light (dim , borken or that it doesn't work at all) had one of these add-on's might prevent an accident. The idea is good but in reality, you think these people might try to fix their OEM brake lights first before spending more money and time to install a new light. And if they don't care about their brake light works or not, I doubt very much they are going to install a third one. 4. My proposal for the issues above: LOOKS DEPT- Intergate the light onto the top of the rear panel of the trunk lid or hatch lid, I notice some manufacturer had already done that. FUNCTIONNALITY- Design it so it will only come on during an emergencey stop. Use brake peddle pressure, brake peddle travel. I don't think it would cost that much more than their design at present. Develope regulation governing the brightness, the lense of these light. It might be easier to live with. THE ABOVE COMMENTS ARE ONLY MY OPINIONS