Safer brake lights

[mikeg3]

Long ago WOT pointed out that the legal requirement is that the brake lights go on when the brake pedal is depressed. Even if GM wanted to change how the brake lights in the Volt work -- and I doubt it does -- it couldn't.

Please give me a link to that post - I can't find it.

[mikeg3]

HA! Thats a good one! Funny, but there are likely many that will agree.

Why is it funny?

The point of brake lights is to cause the driver behind you to put his foot on the brake pedal. The reason you are slowing down is irrelevant. Now that digital electronics makes this almost a freebie, why not light the brake lights on regen?

In many parts of the country without dealer body shops, any body work is a major PITA because the body tech has no EV training and the dealer service tech has other priorities than helping another company. I vote for this enhancement. If the feds have to agree, ask them.

[mikeg3]

standard shift cars don't turn on brake lights when you are down shifting... i don't understand all of the attention this topic has received from posters on this forum...... leads me to believe most on this board never owned manual transmission automobiles before. down shifting/engine braking has been a part of driving since the beginning of automobiles/motorcycles.

Many communities have signs at the border banning engine braking. Is this why?

[scottf200]

Please give me a link to that post - I can't find it.

There is one in the FAQ. See my sig and do a find for brake.

[igneous]

Many communities have signs at the border banning engine braking. Is this why?

no it's a noise issue, mostly for trucks with engine brakes like you hear in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGneE4wwVGU

[Cord]

anyone thinking about brake lights on regen -- do this test

Put the display on that shows car outline use an optical device or have a passenger say BEEP every time the arrows points into the battery.

Anyone following behind you will think you have a short in the brake light if this was done.

I think may of us don't have a problem because we don't totally remove our foot from the Throttle Pedal when starting to slow down.

[cmr]

Many communities have signs at the border banning engine braking. Is this why?

i am 55 and have been driving a standard since i was 13...... never have i seen a local ordinance against down shifting...... you are talking about big rigs using jake brakes to engine break...... they are extremely loud and very annoying. they work very well for going down mountains so they don't overheat their breaks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MLOguHRi0Y

[Dan Hue]

I too do not want the brake lights to go on. In my experience, the biggest risk for rear-ending someone in front of you is when they have their foot on the brake (lights on) for some time, and then start braking more strongly. It takes a while to catch on the fact that the slowing down is more pronounced, because the initial warning is gone. Some cars now have flashing brake lights to indicate such situations, and I think that is a great idea.

[2BeLivingGreen]

This has been discussed a lot and manual transmission cars have been used for a much longer time without issue (think overseas too). So if a manual trans. car was a problem, no brake lights during decel, then there would have been some sort of "light" action taken.

So after almost two years of driving and doing a lot of L shifting for lights, turns etc. I never had a problem with anyone coming too close to me, telling me my brake lights do not work, etc.

Now if I had a tailgater on my backside I would likely not shift into L, but that is not different than when I had a manual trans car I would have not downshifted with a driver like that on my tail. And with a conventional ICE car I would brake early with a tailgater to give them warning and hopefully with them being in such a hurry it would only be a matter of time until they have to change lanes in their driving strategy to get a couple of cars ahead.

So I am sure this will be further discussed as more VOLT owners come on board but history suggests that this has not been a significant problem and is similar to a manual transmission car characteristics. I am sure you can find a manual trans car/person that was rear ended by a driver not paying attention or following too close.