LED Upgrade to Rear Rectangular Lights

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

You know that's BS -- the original CMBL studies found that *any* third brake light significantly improved driver awareness.

Significantly? Oh come on. Then why are they all mounted high on new or newer cars? If it's too low, then who can see as well as one near the top of the trunk line. Drivers can be morons, did the research include morons? Seriously, who will notice those 6 little tiny holes? If you do it, then cut out a nice rectangular swath and install something really big.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Significantly? Oh come on. The why are they all mounted high on new or newer cars? If it's too low, then who can see as well as one near the top of the trunk line. Drivers can be morons, did the research include morons? Seriously, who will notice those 6 little tiny holes? If you do it, then cut out a nice rectangular swath and install something really big.

Significantly? Absolutely. The original tests were performed on fleet taxi cabs in New York and used both high mounted center lights and other, lower, third lights. The result was a reduction of rear enders by over a third. BUT, the statistical reductions consistently declined after the adoption of the regulations requiring the third lights! It has now dropped to under five percent reduction. How could this be? The answer is that the original reduction was not caused by the location of the light itself, but rather by the novelty. The fact that there was an unusual third light is what caused the significant decline. After people became used to seeing a third light in the back window it lost a large amount of its effectiveness. Having an unusual third light is now more effective than a CHMSL.

Trust me, I'm absolutely right on this.

[RodKnock]

Then why do car manufacturers ALWAYS install them at the top of the trunk line and not near the bottom of the rear valance?

Trust you? Trust no one, just like Mulder on the X-Files.

Don't believe everything you read, Buddha also once wrote.

[patrickt]

Look, I found this for you: http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/problems/e...tml#EVALUATION

Now, obviously, if a light is right directly in your field of vision that's better than if it's up, down, or to the side. But the most important aspect of the third light is that it's different to your mind. And btw, those six LEDs will put out over 33,000mcd of luminous intensity.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Look, I found this for you: http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/problems/e...tml#EVALUATION

Now, obviously, if a light is right directly in your field of vision that's better than if it's up, down, or to the side. But the most important aspect of the third light is that it's different to your mind. And btw, those six LEDs will put out over 33,000mcd of luminous intensity.

OK, I read until the 2nd word where it said "Government", then I stopped.

You know, I have no idea what 33,000mcd of luminous intensity means? I have nothing to compare it against. Are you sure you don't mean an "MGD" as in beer?

BTW, you must also know that I really don't care, I'm just giving you a hard time. G-d bless you, if you want to experiment with a 3rd brake light. As long as you don't mind us REAL Cobra owners in The Registry laughing AT you.

It's Friday!

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

BTW, you must also know that I really don't care, I'm just giving you a hard time. G-d bless you...

I know you are. It's part of our shtick.

Originally Posted by spfcobra2567

... but he said LEDs get hot and he has had to replace plastic housings for people that have installed LEDs. I was always with the belief that LEDs were cooler than filament bulbs.

Huh. He tends to know what he's doing, but every LED I have ever met ran cool. But here's a really thorough answer from, of all places, LED Magazine http://www.ledsmagazine.com/features/2/5/8 Lemmee tell you, I read some obscure crap, but nothing quite as obscure as LED Maagazine.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Lemmee tell you, I read some obscure crap, but nothing quite as obscure as LED Maagazine.

You outta get a job or something to occupy your time, if you're reading LED magazine. Oye vey.

Though it's probably a source of "enlightenment." But, maybe not in the same league as Buddha's Four Noble Truths.

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Significantly? Oh come on. Then why are they all mounted high on new or newer cars? If it's too low, then who can see as well as one near the top of the trunk line. Drivers can be morons, did the research include morons? Seriously, who will notice those 6 little tiny holes? If you do it, then cut out a nice rectangular swath and install something really big.

An aircraft landing light with a red lens would get you "noticed".