Rear-facing LED array

[meuge]

I live in NYC and get to drive a fair bit. Our roads are full of really rude drivers, who will tailgate you at 10 feet away, with high-beams on.

I was thinking of constructing an array of rear-facing red Cree LEDs sitting in reflectors (say 24 of them), which I could switch on from the cabin. Even driven at 350mA each, that would give me >2000 lumens...

I know that rear-facing white lights are illegal, but if these are red, they should probably be legal, and at the ranges we're talking about, should provide enough of an incentive for the rude people to go away.

What do you think?

 

[Christoph]

Do you really want to make someone driving behind you,in a 2500+ pound missile close their eyes? Or be unable to see you in front of them.
C

 

[MorePower]

I think making already rude drivers who are tailgating you angry is probably a bad idea, and as far the legality goes, you should probably rethink that as well. I'd imagine causing an accident would negate your "but Judge, the rear-facing light I installed to blind tailgaters was red," defense.

I live in NYC and get to drive a fair bit. Our roads are full of really rude drivers, who will tailgate you at 10 feet away, with high-beams on.

I was thinking of constructing an array of rear-facing red Cree LEDs sitting in reflectors (say 24 of them), which I could switch on from the cabin. Even driven at 350mA each, that would give me >2000 lumens...

I know that rear-facing white lights are illegal, but if these are red, they should probably be legal, and at the ranges we're talking about, should provide enough of an incentive for the rude people to go away.

What do you think?

 

[Ken_McE]

I have considered something that would roll up and be stored against the ceiling. When you pulled its velcro tab it would unroll and hang down. The rear facing side would have mirrored surfaces that would shine back in the general direction of whoever is putting all that light in the cabin in the first place. The forward surface would be flat black, perhaps with some slits through it. Given that there are no limits to how much chrome can be on the back of the car it might be more legally defensible than lights.

 

[cave dave]

I find driving with my hazards on makes people back off.

Also swerving a bit and throwing my empties out the window helps too. Hic! :buddies:

 

[bdsmchs]

Also swerving a bit and throwing my empties out the window helps too. Hic!

Sir, I like the way you think!

 

[f22shift]

that might be overkill. i would just hit the windshield washers and it would get on their windshield.

 

[hopkins]

Cave dave - You're the man!
BTW - going up Hwy 9 once I saw a pickup truck ,on the shoulder, on its side. The driver was out
but was reaching back in thru the little rear cab window and throwing
empty beer bottles out into the bushes. (his GF was handing them out)

---The rear facing led array could be connected to the brake lights.
Some of the modules are wicked. Stuck in traffic I was behind a car
with painfully bright led brake lights. I made space to let some fool
run interferance. think each led in the array had its own lens to focus
the red photons into my eyes.

 

[Monocrom]

What do you think?

Here's a better tactic that works when driving in NYC....

Very slowly slow down. This will frustrate the crap out of anyone tailgating behind you. They want a closer look at your car's @$$, let them enjoy the view.

(There are other things I've done when faced with an obnoxious driver behind me.... But this is a family-friendly forum).

 

[WadeF]

Shame tailgaters can't be considered a threat to your life, etc, and it would be appropriate to pull out a gun and fire at them. I hate tailgaters.. I've been tempted to pull out one of my high powered lights and blast them, but so far better judgment has prevented me from doing so.

Sometimes I keep driving at normal speed, but I press on my brake just enough to light up the brake lights, but not enough to actually engage the brakes. That often works for me. People either think I'm breaking and slow down, while I continue at the same speed and pull away from them, or they realize "I think this guy is trying to tell me to back off" and they do. If they don't repond to that, then things can get interesting.

Maybe we could develope a product that monitors your driving speed, and monitors the distance of any vehicle behind you. If it gets too close to you for the speed you are traveling, it could flash yellow warning lights. If cops saw a car setting off your tailgate warning lights, the offending drive could be pulled over. This should be standard on all vehicles. We have the technology to do it.

 

[f22shift]

you could get one of these
http://www.gominigo.com/PULSAR.html
i have this on my car. flashes the 3rd brake light , then goes solid.

 

[rala]

I was once told by an LEO friend of mine that tapping the brakes on a tailgater was a no-no. If there was no other apparent reason for tapping your brakes other than to scare a tailgater, and an accident was caused due to the tailgater slamming on his brakes, swerving, or whatever, that you could be held liable.

 

[DM51]

Road rage and/or illegal/dangerous activities are not suitable subjects for this forum.

Thread closed.