Laws regarding reversing lights?
- Thread starter eggsalad
- Start date
Help Support Candle Power Flashlight Forum
I saw (noticed?) this for the first time yesterday. A family unlocked their Chevy Suburban and the reverse lights illuminated. What caught my eye were two kids, maybe 6 and 8 YO standing against the rear bumper of a vehicle with low rearward visibility that was seemingly about to back out of a parking space. Luckily I saw the dad approaching the vehicle remote in hand and remembered this thread before I engaged Spiderman mode. Dad might not have appreciated me swiping up his tykes.
Just from this one instance, I can agree that this lighting scheme is a menace.
Just from this one instance, I can agree that this lighting scheme is a menace.
I hadn't really thought of that kind of danger, but yeah, now that you describe the scenario I definitely agree. The "funny" thing is NHTSA is trying to mandate rear-view cameras in all vehicles to prevent little kids from being run over (cynical/skeptical article about it here). Maybe if a vehicle's signal lights all gave unambiguous, clear messages (red light means STOP, white light means HEADED THIS DIRECTION, etc.)...?
Alaric Darconville
Flashlight Enthusiast
It's one of those situations that can evoke both an "wow, what an overreaction!" and a "Whew!", because at first it does sound like it's a non-issue but there's that probably not-too-rare case where the typical nonambiguity of a reverse lamp, combined with kids, probably DOES look alarming.
For vehicles with amber rear turn signals, perhaps the unlock function could put them in steady mode instead of the reversing lamps. Sadly, though, so many vehicles today are still being built with the wrong color rear turn signals.
I'm thinking the bigger danger is not immediate but cumulative. There's no real danger if you mistakenly think a vehicle is going to back into your path; you step on the brake and allow it space, then eventually figure out it's not going to move and go on your way. But little kids (among others) who learn that the white lights on the back of the vehicle go on whenever mommy and daddy are walking towards it are learning an association that could be very dangerous if a vehicle's reversing lights come on when mommy and daddy aren't walking towards it.
Alaric Darconville
Flashlight Enthusiast
Genau.
And that didn't even OCCUR to me until you said it; but this is one of those "common sense" things that isn't *quite* common sense but I believe absolutely that you're right about this.
Alaric, I don't agree that my reaction was unwarranted. My initial understanding of the situation was that the car was indeed about to reverse over the kids. It wasn't until a split second later that I saw the dad and gained full situational awareness.
Alaric Darconville
Flashlight Enthusiast
You don't have to agree, because I didn't say it was unwarranted. I was being hypothetical.
markweatherill
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2011
- Messages
- 15
No, but the car could be parked ...on the road. I'm in the UK so haven't seen this behaviour and couldn't imagine such a thing.How often do US drivers park their cars somewhere that isn't illuminated anyway, surely your parking lots have lighting?
Bullzeyebill
Flashaholic
Markweatherill, you post is not germaine to the thread topic. Topic is not about parking lot lighting.
Bill
Bill
Bill, I think Markweatherill was simply making the point that the usefulness of the reversing lights being used with the keyless entry is likely low because most parking lots are well lit. Like many of us, I think he doesn't necessarily see the benefit of the reversing lights being used with the keyless entry.
Bullzeyebill
Flashaholic
Hokiefyd, you are probably correct. Thanks,
Bill
Bill
It's a "find my car" feature so you can spot which way to walk when you hit the remote and the car lights up. Should be all the car's turn signals instead of the reversing lamps. Or, hey, this is 2013, how about some bright (green or ???) LEDs discreetly hidden in a ring around the roof of the car, expressly for this "find me" type of function?
Alaric Darconville
Flashlight Enthusiast
And then be cited for impersonating the Incident Command Post? (Incident Command System Glossary). Maybe not, but I imagine green could be rejected for such a reason.
Maybe it could just activate the normal hazard lights, or flash the dome light.
Or, maybe they could just remember that they parked in the Itchy lot.
Er, you aren't being serious, right?
I always thought it was to help you see in the dark loading/unloading a vehicle more than locating. Most cars flash their park/signal lights from the remote, so I figure most people use that feature for finding their cars if they need it.
Granted, most parking lots are illuminated but not everyone uses their cars in illuminated environments and that stuff can be real handy--not that any of my cars have ever done that. My 4Runner has lights in the hatch that illuminate the rear area when the door is open, and that is quite nice. Probably a better implementation than the reverse lights, as they aim down when the door is open.
I've never considered this an issue, as the context usually makes it pretty apparent... but there are some valid points and I see where it could be an issue.
Alaric Darconville
Flashlight Enthusiast
About the ICS? Yes, I'm being serious. I would expect automakers wouldn't attempt to use green for that reason. (Think about it for a moment. Would they use red? Or blue? Why, or why not? 50 points. Spelling counts.)Er, you aren't being serious, right?
I'm also being serious that maybe people might try to remember better where they parked. It may be a little more difficult at the county fairgrounds, but at the mall most of the parking lots have numbered regions. Or maybe they could remember they walked in through the Sears or something.
Alaric Darconville
Flashlight Enthusiast
100 things on my mind love that the horn honks. Blinking lights near useless compared to the horn
Sadly, I have to-- the Corolla doesn't have a "clicker", and the Previa's clicker doesn't work more than about 15 feet away most of the time. I *could* GPS guide myself back to the car
(Still have to be at the car or very close to unlock it.)All these regulated lighting functions have been around so long, but it's not been so long that remote unlock/start and all that has been affordable. Finding a way to make these new features interoperate with existing ones is a challenge. Now that I examine the idea of kids running up to the SUV because Dad turned on the reversing lamps, I really don't like that. Hazard lights really seem to be the way to go, and aren't incompatible with also lighting the DRLs or low beams to help see one's way to the car (or to the front door when they get home).
