btl@mtunf.UUCP (Bernie Lee) (01/09/86)
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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