Re: Rear Lights

[Jeremy R King <kingjer@eng.auburn.edu>]

The biggest gripe I have against red "blinkers" (beside aesthetics) is
actually, I think, legitimate.  Granted it doesn't happen everyday, but
every so often here in "the south" it storms heavily.  I'm sure blizzards 
are even more severe up north or in cold climates around the globe.  Here 
in Alabama, the "thing to do" when visibility is very low from such 
circumstances is turn your hazards on.  Detroitmobiles, amoung others, 
use the same lights for hazards as they do for brakes.  Most disable the 
flashers while the brake lights are on.  In heavy rain, people hit their 
brakes, then when they let off the lights go back to flashing.  But since 
visibility is low as well as traction, these folks are on and off the 
brakes quite often (slushboxes - no engine braking).  It's really 
confusing to tell what the vehicle in front of you is doing in this 
circumstance.  With yellow flashers (as on my GL5), you are aware of the 
car ahead and can tell whether they are braking or not.  It's much more 
predictable and thus much safer.  

And, I don't know about the rest of you highway DRIVERS out there, but I 
still signal for every lane change and every turn - even (gaaaasp) when 
no one is within 20 miles.  Two blinks for a lane change, though.  None 
of that lingerin' till I get all the way over stuff.

BTW, point well taken about quick-shifts.  But I still stick to my guns 
on heel-toe.

Jeremy R. King
1986 VW Quantum GL5
Audi at Heart

On Wed, 15 Nov 1995 LToy@aol.com wrote:

> >I feel all the car makers should stick to yellow/amber color for turning 
> >lights. I mean how in the world does one distinguish between someone 
> >going wild on the brakes from someone who is going to cut into your 
> >spot?
> 
> see if there's 1 or 2 lights flashing!  (and if you can't tell which one
> means which...) sorry, but this one's a bit too ... nevermind.
> 
> --linus
> LToy@aol.com
>