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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!mmm!schley
From: schley@mmm.UUCP (Steve Schley)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Third Brake Light (add one yourself for pre-86 cars).
Message-ID: <415@mmm.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 17-Jan-86 12:27:11 EST
Article-I.D.: mmm.415
Posted: Fri Jan 17 12:27:11 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 19-Jan-86 05:22:05 EST
References: <172@hropus.UUCP> <3217@hplabsb.UUCP> <3109@sun.uucp> <927@mit-eddie.UUCP>
Reply-To: schley@mmm.UUCP (Steve Schley)
Organization: 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn.
Lines: 26
Keywords: third brake light

In article <927@mit-eddie.UUCP> alw@mit-eddie.UUCP (Alan Wu) writes:
>I think there are several reasons that third brake lights work, beyond
>simple novelty.
> ...
>  3. Perhaps most important, they are OFF at all times EXCEPT when the 
>brakes are applied.  The transition from off to on is much easier to
>perceive and interpret than a change in brightness (especially when 
>the latter may be accompanied by a blinking turn signal).

I, too, think this is a good point.  The comment about getting turn
signals confused with tail lamps and brake lamps is important.

I think that red turn signals are dangerous, and if we are going to
require a third brake light on cars, we should also require amber turn
signals.  Obviously, this conveys more information with less confusion
than the classic American-style everything-is-red-at-the-back design.

Anyone have any comments on pulsing brake lamps?  How about if the
brake lamps pulse rate is proportional to the brake pedal force, or the
decelleration of the vehicle?  Then the brake lamps wouldn't be pulsing
while sitting at a stop light, giving the following driver a migraine,
but would attract attention when they're supposed to.
-- 
	Steve Schley

	ihnp4!mmm!schley