Adding red LEDs to Back Window

[Captain Obvious]

Now there's a reference you don't see everyday. That movie scared the crap out of me long time ago!!

[Mark Maras]

 Strobe lights are also used to attempt to trigger a seizure during an EEG test and flickering TVs have been know to trigger seizures too in those people afflicted with static in the attic.

[TomoHawk]

OK, so stay away from any of those brake light flasher boxes that flash the light more than  a few times.  I don't see any reason how flashing a brake light for 3 seconds will save you in a panic stop or rush-hour traffic, so those flasher boxes are really just a waste of your money.

Edited October 25, 2015 by TomoHawk

[djwarner]

Let me share an idea that has been kicking around in my head for a while. ....... but I would have it activated by the throttle. Anytime the throttle is in the closed position, the light is on.

A year or two ago a British teen-aged student driver came up with the same idea, only lighting all the brake lights. It made the television news here as a "Why didn't I think of that?" Idea. I continue to be surprised that it hasn't been adopted.

When my wife was rear ended at night in her black Miata, I found a third light flasher kit that alternated a few seconds of steady light with a few seconds of medium speed flashing. Later, I've seen similar flashers on the center brake lights on Harley's.

[TomoHawk]

I like the idea of alternating a little strobing with the  steady red light, but several seconds of strobing would really get annoying to people behind you (sitting in a car.)  That would work well for a motorcycle, where the brake lamp is lower to the ground, or a Police or Emergency vehicle as a warning light, but for a car brake light what you would really want is just a few quick flashes to remind what's behind you that you're still stopped.

[TomoHawk]

There's already a motorcycle flasher that senses stuff like downshifting and raking, and flashes the lights differently:  http://www.gizmag.com/vololights-motorcycle-braking-light/27492/

[Mark Maras]

OOOOH, I like that. A smart light for dummies. I too am surprised that the idea didn't catch on yet. I can definitely understand motorcycles wanting them. Here in Portland I wish our local bike riders would use them too.

[TomoHawk]

The motorcycle thing has a microprocessor and a G-sensor to detect speed changes, so I wonder how well it would really work, and could possibly give misleading flashes. 

 

Bicyclists have the bouncy red LED or a flashing red LED light for their "protection, but I think they could do better with  a randomly strobing red/yellow LED.  Motorists get used to ignoring the steady flash of red warning lights, not realizing it could be from a cyclist, but strobing lights, like those on a Police or emergency vehicle demand more attention.

Edited October 25, 2015 by TomoHawk

[TomoHawk]

A YouTube video got me to wonder if you could hook up an electronic flasherbox to the hazard lamps. The idea would be to have hazard lights that flash quickly, getting attention from drivers, who easily ignore the steady flash of turn signals or normal hazard lights.

 

You would need to change them all to LEDs first. The hazard lights would then flash 2-3 times each cycle.  If I had one of those strobe boxes, I'd try it over the winter, since I tossed the old thermo-mechanical flasher already, and need a new, electric flasher unit.  Too bad flasher modules aren't adjustable.   Since they are solid-state, they could have a tiny music chip and speaker inside (like the electronic birthday cards) andplay you a tune during your turn! 

[Mark Maras]

 I like the way this idea is going. Now I'm thinking that an amber deceleration flasher & a red brake flasher would offer the best protection. I think using the cars hazard lamps(too large) would irritate anyone sitting behind you in traffic.

The question is how large can you go to get attention but not wizz people off.

[TomoHawk]

That's the beauty of the LEDs.   Except for the way Cadillac used them for the high brake lamp ALL the way across the trunklid, a row of them, all red or a combination of colors, can be very useful. And as LEDs like to be flashed,  the flash pattern can be just as useful, as long as the pattern has meaning and plays into the short attention-span of the "average driver."

 

Would a driver really understand the amber lights as a deceleration warning?  What are the kids learning in their Driver's Ed classes?  This sounds like a motorcycle thing, so ask some of them for input regarding amber deceleration lights.

 

A California Law

Washing state Law

http://www.bikealertsystem.com/

 

The California law says that the amber lamps can be  not higher than the bottom of the rear window, so that means it has to be mounted to the rear of the trunklid of the car, or on the edge of the hatch for a Zed.  So they want you to hack holes in the body to be safe...

Edited October 26, 2015 by TomoHawk

[Mark Maras]

 Thanks for doing the research. I really like the BikeAlert products. The license frame light would make this project an easy & effective install. I didn't go into the Wa & Ca regs in depth yet but I think the license location will work for either state. Oregon, it appears, has no regulations on deceleration lamps.