3rd Light Benefits?

[Al]

This may not be the appropriate forum, but there have been many good
discussions in this group.

We've had third brake lights in our vehicles now for say 10 years or so.
Has anyone or any agency documented whether or not there had been any
improvement in the rear end crash rate?

Have these 3rd lights provided us with any benefit?

Al

 

[jabario]

They benefit light bulb makers who sell more light bulbs!!

 

[Zelidar]

Whatever the statistics say, at night and over a certain distance I
enjoy being better able to distinguish braking cars with that
additional third light.

 

[DJ]

This may not be the appropriate forum, but there have been many good
discussions in this group.

We've had third brake lights in our vehicles now for say 10 years or so.
Has anyone or any agency documented whether or not there had been any
improvement in the rear end crash rate?

Have these 3rd lights provided us with any benefit?

Al

I can't speak for the nation at large, but at night, they certainly do help
me.

~DJ

 

[Paul]

Have these 3rd lights provided us with any benefit?

They did until SUVs came along. Now I can't see anything
up ahead.

 

[Tom Reingold]

This may not be the appropriate forum, but there have been many good
discussions in this group.

We've had third brake lights in our vehicles now for say 10 years or so.
Has anyone or any agency documented whether or not there had been any
improvement in the rear end crash rate?

Have these 3rd lights provided us with any benefit?

Al

It's been 20 years in the US!

I think it would be hard to disaggregate the accident data and attribute
anything good or bad to the third brake lights. Too many factors are at
play. But I still think they're a good idea. They're not expensive.

I notice when they are out, which is a sign that I am subconsciously
looking at them or for them.

Tom

 

[Tom Reingold]

I'm starting to love wikipedia!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_brake_light

So it's been 19 years. So I lied.

Tom

 

[Fuzzy Logic]

It's been 20 years in the US!

I think it would be hard to disaggregate the accident data and attribute
anything good or bad to the third brake lights. Too many factors are at
play. But I still think they're a good idea. They're not expensive.

I notice when they are out, which is a sign that I am subconsciously
looking at them or for them.

Tom

I recall an auto journalist suggesting we need a brake light on the front of
the car! Sounds strange but he suggesting it would be great to know if
oncoming traffic is going to run a light (especially if you are turning
left) as well as for pedestrians to see if a car is slowing down for them.

 

[Al]

I'm starting to love wikipedia!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_brake_light

So it's been 19 years. So I lied.

Tom

Hmm, my '91 Jeep doesn't have them. So they couldn't have been required.

Ah, I just looked it up and light trucks didn't need them til '94.

So the novelty aspect of it wore off and now gives only a 5% benefit.

OK, shoulda looked it up in wikipedia. Thanks.

Al

 

[Tom Reingold]

I recall an auto journalist suggesting we need a brake light on the front of
the car! Sounds strange but he suggesting it would be great to know if
oncoming traffic is going to run a light (especially if you are turning
left) as well as for pedestrians to see if a car is slowing down for them.

I've thought of things like this. Back in the 70's, Popular Science said
they (or someone) did an experiment where the brake lights would flash,
and the speed would depend on how hard you were braking. The experiment
showed that people following the flashing brake lights seemed to
understand what they meant and reacted accordingly.

I've thought about having an indicator on the back of my car that
indicated what gear I'm in, so people would be understanding if I wasn't
accelerating fast.

But I think we risk overloading drivers with too much information.

What would I do with a front brake light? It's not my job to avoid being
rear-ended. That's the job of the person following me.

There is a very fun web site for half-baked ideas: http://www.halfbakery.com

Tom

 

[BobN]

What I'd like is an LCD signboard in my rear window that flashes messages to
tailgaters...Even cooler if it could allow a selection from various prepared
messages, ranging from a polite "Too Close" to "BACK OFF" and up, depending
on the rudeness and persistence of the tailgater...

 

[kstahl]

What I'd like is an LCD signboard in my rear window that flashes messages to
tailgaters...Even cooler if it could allow a selection from various prepared
messages, ranging from a polite "Too Close" to "BACK OFF" and up, depending
on the rudeness and persistence of the tailgater...

I'd prefer a tail gun myself, but to each their own.

 

[Cam Penner]

I've thought of things like this. Back in the 70's, Popular Science said
they (or someone) did an experiment where the brake lights would flash,
and the speed would depend on how hard you were braking. The experiment
showed that people following the flashing brake lights seemed to
understand what they meant and reacted accordingly.

I know that these are available for motorcycles. I don't
know about cars.

What would I do with a front brake light? It's not my job to avoid being
rear-ended. That's the job of the person following me.

That's easy to say if you're in a big safe car. I make it
my business to avoid being rear ended when I'm out riding
my motorcycle. When being rear-ended can be a life and
death situation, you start to really CARE what the car
behind you is doing. Whether or not it is LEGALLY my fault,
it is in my best interests to take appropriate action. I'm
not sure I'd trust a front mounted brake light though...

 

[Guy Macon]

This may not be the appropriate forum, but there have been many good
discussions in this group.

We've had third brake lights in our vehicles now for say 10 years or so.
Has anyone or any agency documented whether or not there had been any
improvement in the rear end crash rate?

Have these 3rd lights provided us with any benefit?

Look here:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/regrev/evaluate/808696.html

 

[Guy Macon]

I'd prefer a tail gun myself, but to each their own.

You kids nowdays... You always go for the obvious.

Look here to see how we did it in the old days:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/information/artifacts/caltrop.htm

 

[Zelidar]

Thanks for hunting down and bringing that link into the forum, it was
an interesting read.

<<< ... Since the value of property damage avoided, alone, far exceeds
the cost of CHMSL, the lamps still are and will continue to be highly
cost-effective safety devices ... >>>

....and I assume that the above can also be applied outside of the US.

 

[Al]

Look here:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/regrev/evaluate/808696.html

Thanks, that answers my question.

Al

 

[Tom Reingold]

That's easy to say if you're in a big safe car. I make it
my business to avoid being rear ended when I'm out riding
my motorcycle. When being rear-ended can be a life and
death situation, you start to really CARE what the car
behind you is doing. Whether or not it is LEGALLY my fault,
it is in my best interests to take appropriate action. I'm
not sure I'd trust a front mounted brake light though...

Good point. I do my best to respect motorcycle riders, because I know
too few car drivers do. I make sure to follow them with a great distance
between us, and I let them go ahead of me whenever they want to pass.
They don't hinder me, so why not? And they (you) are more vulnerable.

Tom

 

[Tom Reingold]

What I'd like is an LCD signboard in my rear window that flashes messages to
tailgaters...Even cooler if it could allow a selection from various prepared
messages, ranging from a polite "Too Close" to "BACK OFF" and up, depending
on the rudeness and persistence of the tailgater...

The idea of a lighted sign in the back of a car with varying messages is
appealing. It's been shot down many times on http://www.halfbakery.com
but I don't remember why. I think I'd like to have one. I might load it
up with about a dozen ready-made messages.

Tom

 

[BobN]

Look here to see how we did it in the old days:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/information/artifacts/caltrop.htm

Pros are it's simple and highly effective. But it can't be targeted
precisely enough to ensure that only the perpetrator is brought to justice.
The risk of hitting an innocent is just too high.

A small paintball gun would also be nice, if I could figure out how to mount
it.