NHTSA Looking to Mandate Rear Turn-Signal Color
Safer is better to the NHTSA.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is asking for public comment on a proposed new regulation that would mandate vehicle rear turn signals to be amber-colored. Currently, they can be either amber or red, in accordance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108.
According to a study by NHTSA, amber rear turn signals have proved 5.3% more effective than red turn signals in preventing crashes. The study focused on “switch pairs,” which are vehicles that switched rear turn-signal color from one model year to the next, while controlling for “extraneous factors” such as vehicle and driver traits.
European countries already mandate that turn signals be amber, and although 5.3% sounds like a fairly small difference, NHTSA says it’s statistically significant and in line with other studies done on the subject. If automakers have to make a separate, colored turn signal in the rear it will cost more money for the domestics, but save money for automakers importing European models.
The comment period for the proposed regulation will last through Sept. 6.
Source: Kicking Tires
Great, just wonderful! The government will be telling us what CAR to drive next.
I cant wait to see how the new C7 will look with all these rules and bs as of late. I fear the C6 will be the last awesome vette for some time but I hope I am wrong.
welp, if they pass it there better be exemptions on cars made before the year of the law because firebirds have red housings. along with many other cars.
I definitely believe amber lights are better/easier/safer. But I'm not putting amber bulbs in my TA! 
As long as it's for new cars only (which I suppose it will be), I'm for it. I've always suspected that amber turn signals were superior for visibility and this study proves that. It's definitely far more useful news from the NHTSA than a lot of stuff they've done in the past.
Thats retarded. If you need to have amber flashing in front of you because you can't see red ones... get off the road. A totally color-blind person still knows when a light is flashing
I'll admit that the red ones sometimes confuse me, not sure if they're just tapping the brakes or what. I'm for new cars with ambers.
i could see this on lower base models but on high end sport cars and cars like the new ss camaro no amber for them
@bkcamaro:
That's why you look at the other tail light to see if it's blinking as well. If they're both blinking, then it could be their hazard lights or tapping the breaks--either way you should slow down. If it's just one, then their turning.
If one's out, hit them. They should've had their tail lights fixed. Ha.
@Hiro: i agree
thats y its a law to have the 3rd brake light is so ppl know when ur braking
I enjoy seeing the cars that only have the 3rd breaklight working. blinkers and brakes can't be confused then. The law is pointless. there are too many drivers that don't use blinkers anyway, or use them when they are already half in your lane.
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