Indicator brightness
Discussion
Simon_GH said:
Some cars reduce the brightness of the headlamp when that indicator is activated.
PH: Terminology matters. The headlamps are never dimmed for an indicator, what you are referring to are DRLs which on some vehicles are dimmed on the corresponding side when an indicator is activated. After the signal cancels, the DRL returns to full brightness. It's designed for conspicuity of the indicator, although some may argue that it's poor design if a DRL has to dim in order to see an indicator.
Some cars have the DRL switch to amber for the indicator, which is a different application but a similar effect; the DRL function is removed entirely while the indicator on the corresponding side is in use.
Some JLR vehicles do a similar thing on the rear with the tail lights; the tail light is extinguished when the corresponding indicator is active. I'm not a fan of this, as it means you cannot have such a vehicle lit with sidelights at night plus hazards, as the indicators overrule the sidelight circuit. If you break down at night, your vehicle isn't as well lit as a normal vehicle with normal, independant sidelight/indicator functionality.
The answer is to re-introduce arm signals, with a new mandatory requirement for the driver to wear gloves, made with orange reflective material and with battery-operated leds built in for night use.
This would also allow for drivers to choose designer gloves if they wanted to make a statement.
This would also allow for drivers to choose designer gloves if they wanted to make a statement.
Funny how cars of old used to have the indicator at the top of the rear lens - light/brake at the bottom. Up until quite recently too.
Now, brakes are the upper, much brighter, and on many models, the indicators are secondary and much smaller.
I guess it’s to help with reducing rear end shunts?
Now, brakes are the upper, much brighter, and on many models, the indicators are secondary and much smaller.
I guess it’s to help with reducing rear end shunts?
This is on my grumpy old man list - number 87.
There's one car with a circular rear cluster with the indicator in the middle - impossible to see with brake lights on (might be a fiat 500?)
I do often see cars with dimming dlrs at the front when indicating - mostly ford and vag I think, though as the race for generic looking angular boxes continues (number 103 on the list) I often don't care what makes vehicles are any more.
Some cars also have active lights that turn on a fog or DLR light on the side that's turning.
As I drive through south london regularly however, I don't often get to see other peoples' indicators much anyway.
There's one car with a circular rear cluster with the indicator in the middle - impossible to see with brake lights on (might be a fiat 500?)
I do often see cars with dimming dlrs at the front when indicating - mostly ford and vag I think, though as the race for generic looking angular boxes continues (number 103 on the list) I often don't care what makes vehicles are any more.
Some cars also have active lights that turn on a fog or DLR light on the side that's turning.
As I drive through south london regularly however, I don't often get to see other peoples' indicators much anyway.
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