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Why are newer cars coming out with red signal lights?

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lxskllr said:
The VW something or other(?) was the first car I was aware of that did that, and it was great fun watching the spoiler raise as they left a light :^)
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almost all porsche did that, i think my 99 boxster did it above 65, its like am automatic radar for the cops
 
I think aesthetics has a big part to do with this current design trend. All red taillights look much better than taillights with a strip of amber in it.
 
rsutoratosu said:
almost all porsche did that, i think my 99 boxster did it above 65, its like am automatic radar for the cops
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Yea, I specifically remember the Boxster, but I /think/ the VW was the first I remember. I may just be confused though. I've never owned a Porsche, and I've never had a water cooled Vdub.
 
When the FJ first came out one driver complained about getting pulled over for having white snail eyes on the mirrors. The officer explained that it wasn't allowed to have white lights on the front of the vehicle.
 
Kelvrick said:
This has long been a pep peeve of mine. Another thing is when the reverse lights come on when the car is parked. I love this in parking garages when you don't know if someone is about to reverse out of their spot.
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I can see your point. This is a "feature" on many GM cars that can be disabled. Called perimeter lighting. My vehicle has it, and with guilt, I have it enabled. I wish it would light up a sign that says, I'm not really at the vehicle, I just unlocked it, but I really appreciate it at night, especially when my wife is alone. I do try to rush quickly and get in knowing that people are waiting. One telltale sign is that a car that doesn't have it's brake lights on, but the backup lights on and isn't moving is certainly one with this feature.
 
jtvang125 said:
I think aesthetics has a big part to do with this current design trend. All red taillights look much better than taillights with a strip of amber in it.
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Cars without license plates (especially in the front) look better than cars with, but good luck getting away with that.

I agree with the OP, turn signals should be AMBER.
 
dtgoodwin said:
I can see your point. This is a "feature" on many GM cars that can be disabled. Called perimeter lighting. My vehicle has it, and with guilt, I have it enabled. I wish it would light up a sign that says, I'm not really at the vehicle, I just unlocked it, but I really appreciate it at night, especially when my wife is alone. I do try to rush quickly and get in knowing that people are waiting. One telltale sign is that a car that doesn't have it's brake lights on, but the backup lights on and isn't moving is certainly one with this feature.
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I'm not just talking about someone waiting for a spot, I'm talking about when you're driving through a garage or parking lot. Its not always that easy to see and is extremely annoying. Especially with other cars parked next to the vehicle, you might only be a spot or two (10-15 feet) away when the lights become visible and even going at a slow 10mph, you're traveling at 15 feet per second. That is 1 second to notice the reverse lights and lack of brake lights. Not to mention deciding nobody is in the cab or if it is even actually moving yet.

I take solace in the fact that as I learn to ignore these lights and if someone is actually backing out, I'll be getting a new car from the insurance company.

The same thing applies in traffic when the brake lights are used as turn signals. Someone signalling a turn can easily be misinterpreted as braking if they're in the lane next to you and the car behind them is blocking the rest of their car.

Regarding the design trend. Even with the all red tail lights, just use a lighter colored turn signal bulb. Combining with the red plastic/glass to become amber. Fucking cheap ass manufacturers.
 
MagnusTheBrewer said:
Count yourself lucky. In Arizona, turn signals are optional.
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mmntech said:
I've noticed that luxury car manufacturers such as BMW and Lexus have stopped installing turn signals in their cars.
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Haven't read it anywhere yet, but it seems that the use of turn signals has been outlawed in the State of Kentucky!:biggrin:

And what is up with these hand-held GPS now?
Everyone you see has their phone next to their ear, I assume they're listening to their GPS?:biggrin::biggrin:
 
orange/yellow > *

much easier to tell what's going on when turn signal lights are a different color than the brake lights.
 
I'm just more annoyed with cars that have LED brake lights with a crappy PWM circuit so that I see that annoying flicker.
 
If they are a certain distance apart, they can be red or amber. If they are below that distance then they must be amber to distinguish from the brake. There is no reason to act like confusing them for the brake is a realistic concern.

White bulbs with colored lenses or colored bulbs with clear lenses: It doesn't matter, but the lenses must have the DOT stamp to be legally sold/imported or pass inspections in certain states.
 
In most countries it is required to have amber turn signal lights. I think the US is the only westernized country that lets car manufacturers use red lights as turn signals. Manufacturers usually install red light turn signals because I think it's cheaper to use the same color. It's retarded.
 
Sometimes it is a styling thing. Generally speaking I think the all red tails look better than the red and yellow ones. I have amber turns on my Camaro, red on my Trailblazer. Trailblazer has a separate bulb for turn than brake however. Well, was bulbs, they are LED now 😀

Kelvrick said:
Regarding the design trend. Even with the all red tail lights, just use a lighter colored turn signal bulb. Combining with the red plastic/glass to become amber. Fucking cheap ass manufacturers.
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Are you saying you've never changed a tail light bulb before 😕 They aren't red bulbs behind red lenses. They are clear bulbs. You won't get amber light out of a red lens, it just doesn't work that way. I had an amber corner bulb behind my red lens on my old car because the original burned out and that's all I had at the time and you couldn't tell at all.
 
The styling thing is a weak excuse. German cars often have tail lights that are all red, but they still blink amber.

I guess American companies are too fucking stupid to engineer something so amazingly complicated. :awe:
 
rsutoratosu said:
almost all porsche did that, i think my 99 boxster did it above 65, its like am automatic radar for the cops
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Is air downforce really necessary at 65? I didn't even think it became much of a factor until well over 100.

Is this just a show-off feature, or really needed?
 
SparkyJJO said:
Sometimes it is a styling thing. Generally speaking I think the all red tails look better than the red and yellow ones. I have amber turns on my Camaro, red on my Trailblazer. Trailblazer has a separate bulb for turn than brake however. Well, was bulbs, they are LED now 😀



Are you saying you've never changed a tail light bulb before 😕 They aren't red bulbs behind red lenses. They are clear bulbs. You won't get amber light out of a red lens, it just doesn't work that way. I had an amber corner bulb behind my red lens on my old car because the original burned out and that's all I had at the time and you couldn't tell at all.
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I guess not if it is pure red, but if it is the lighter pink, wouldn't a green bulb get amber out? I was so blind with anger, I couldn't even correctly express my thoughts on color.
 
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