Auto tail light innovation

But the human eye is much more sensitive to a change in light (on/off) than to a change in color, especially the amber/red distinction. And what about people with color perception defects? Having a nothing or all system makes it faster to react as the eye would notice the change faster than a color change.

My 2 cents

Red/green color blindness is very common. The color distinction would be invisible to a considerable number of people.

Traffic lights get around this by distinguishing red and green by position, not just color.

1. 1000 watt spotlight to signal driver behind you that he is following to close.
2. 2000 kw C02 laser to signal driver in front that he has just cut you off.

Luhan

Our (Phoenix) city buses are something like that, except no green...

Yellow equals coasting.

Red means the brake pedal has been pressed.

Blinking Red means decelerating.

...Jim Thompson

An even simpler solution: _Always_ assume that all the drivers around you are confused (remember, they aren't engineers!).

Their not being engineers is probably a PLUS ;-)

...Jim Thompson

-- | James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens | | Analog Innovations, Inc. | et | | Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus | | Phoenix, Arizona Voice:(480)460-2350 | | | E-mail Address at Website Fax:(480)460-2142 | Brass Rat | |

Older traffic light lenses used to have a vertical or horizontal bar that was for colorblind people. I think the new ones no longer have this, and just the position is used. This is fine for the standard vertical orientation with red on top, but I have seen traffic lights that were horizontal (not recently, however).

Paul (Posted via Google because my news server sucks)

How redundant! In L.A., your pistol covers both of these criteria already!

And motorcycles should be fitted as standard with a battery of RPG launchers to deal with the myopic and/or homicidal maniac car drivers that pull out in front of them!!!!!

Don't indicate - it confuses the car drivers!!!!!

These *might* be illegal but tempting. I think a good deterrent to those who abuse their high beams would be an adjustable pop-up mirror. It could also be made so that it could be focused to intensify the effect. Maybe a big sheet of aluminized mylar?

Paul (via Google because my news server sucks)

Why? I thought motorcyclists, particularly the helmet-less ones, were just assisting the natural selection process ;-)

...Jim Thompson

-- | James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens | | Analog Innovations, Inc. | et | | Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus | | Phoenix, Arizona Voice:(480)460-2350 | | | E-mail Address at Website Fax:(480)460-2142 | Brass Rat | |

"Jim Thompson" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

Sometimes I wonder what distinguishes certain kinds of engineer from the brain dead suits!

One firm I worked for had a number of "sales engineers". One day I got back from lunch a little late so everything was back to work, as I made my way to my section I encountered one of the sales engineers with a panicked expression and struggling with one of those blue "camping gaz" blowlamps, the correct procedure for changing the cartridge is to fully unscrew the burner assy from the top and then unclip the bayonet fitting base plate to release the cartridge. This 'engineer' (pillock!) had somehow got the empty without unscrewing the top and had jammed a new cartridge in hard enough to pierce the seal but couldn't cram the bayonet plate back in, he was just standing there spraying LPG next to the assembly line where dozens of the assembly women were sitting there smoking!!!

Before the third brake light was introduced, my brother-in-law could not tell the difference between the red running lights on the back of the auto and increase in brightness when the brake was depressed. The third light did make it safer for him....and everyone else.

Hmmm, you guys are right about the color blindness issue. Sorta kills the idea. But horns are required on cars...and people who are deaf don't seem to mind.

Al

I don't think horns are *required*.

...Jim Thompson

Here's a good rule for everyone....

whenever the brake lights of the the car in front of you are ON, your foot should be on the brake pedal so that your brake lights are on also....

I knew a guy who would tail gate and claim that he had lightining fast reactions and would be able to stop in time...turns out one day, he was right, he did stop in time, but his plan neglected the guy behind him...

Mark

In the days of my wild youth (~ age 47 ;-), I have been known to dust off tailgaters by jamming on the brakes of my 280ZX, watch them sliding up to me, then punch it just in time to avoid being rear-ended... really pissed a few people off... particularly the ones who spun off the roadway. Damn good thing that Z was fast ;-)

...Jim Thompson

"Jim Thompson" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

.......only the ones who stick the bike through the driver side door!

They have been a part of the vehicle safety inspection in every state where I had a car . If it's OEM on that year and model, it has to work. http://66.102.9.104/search?num=100&q=inurl:us+intitle:checklist+brake-lights+horn+wipers+mirror