You know, I've heard of those studies, but I am still skeptical. I guess
if it were /that/ big a deal to me I'd get hold of copies of them and
read them to get an idea of their methods, as I've seen more than one
"study" that was designed to support the author's pet conclusion.
Really, some of the installations are ridiculous - like the Volvo wagons
and Chevy vans that have their light clusters grouped in the upper half
of the rear pillars on either side of the rear window, right up there in
view and all; yet they still have this dinky little center-mounted lamp
at the top of the rear window. The center light is redundant and totally
unnecessary.
My feeling on the subject is based on my personal observations, which
tell me that the high/center-mounted brakelights are not a miracle cure.
If the driver behind you isn't paying enough attention to following
distance and traffic flow to avoid hitting you, the high-mounted light
is not going to help; and if it isn't helping, it isn't necessary.
Gary McCormick
San Jose, CA
BTW - Please don't take my opinions on this (or any other subject
discussed on the list) as a putdown of yours if I express an opposing
view. I've encountered many situations where different people's feelings
on a subject are based on differing, but valid, viewpoints. Sometimes it
comes down to agreeing to disagree.
gkm
-----------------------
"Ryan, Richard" wrote:
>
> There were many studies done on taxi fleets to measure the effectiveness of
> high-mounted brake lights. Those with high-mounted brake lights were
> involved in many fewer rear end accidents. The results of these studies
> were a major reason the legislation was enacted.
>
> If I could do anything to reduce the potential of some _ _ _ hole running in
> to the back of me, I'd do it.
>
> Dick Ryan ex. 24022
> (650)312-4022
> Risk Management Dept. #857
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Gary McCormick [SMTP:svgkm@halley.ca.essd.northgrum.com]
> > Sent: Friday, March 19, 1999 6:36 AM
> > To: William Hatfield
> > Cc: Datsun Roadsters - Post List
> > Subject: Re: High-mounted brakelights (was Tiger killer)
> >
> > Personally, I've always felt that the high-mounted brakelights were a
> > waste of time. If the driver behind you doesn't see your conventionally
> > mounted brakelights, they just aren't paying attention - so another
> > brakelight, mounted higher and on center, isn't going to make any
> > difference. There is always the remote possibility that you may spot the
> > high-mounted brakelight on a vehicle further up through the windows of
> > the vehicle ahead, but if the vehicle immediately ahead of you is
> > significantly taller (and if you're in a Roadster, what isn't?) or has
> > those obnoxious tinted windows, forget it. The installation of the
> > high-mounted brakelight on some cars is just ridiculous - for example,
> > the Corvette convertible that was ahead of me in traffic the other day -
> > the high-mounted brakelight is on center at the top edge of the rear
> > deck, maybe 6" higher than the conventional lights.
> >
> > All that having been said, I gotta say that the row of little LED
> > brakelights in the trailing edge of the rear spoiler on the Honda NSX
> > looks really sharp!
> >
> > Gary McCormick
> > San Jose, CA
> > ------------------------------------------
> >
> > William Hatfield wrote:
> > >
> > > [snip]
> > > The idea of a third brake lite in the roll bar might be a good one (I
> > > really think the lite is a good safety feature) I put one in the
> > > spoiler on my roadster.[snip]
> > > Bill 66&67 spls in N.M>
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