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Safety when driving... strobe light ... ideas??

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Popeye

Popeye

Obi Wan
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I am planning to upgrade my transmission to an o/d unit to allow relaxed cruising on long distance trips. At the same time, I question personal safety on the road - while we like to spend our time on empty two-lane highways, road trips often include stretches in heavy traffic. As we are well aware, our LBCs are small and hard to see. And not as noisy as our Harley counterparts. This leads me to think about increasing visibility in emergencies:

Specifically, the use of strobe lights. When honking, a strobe light flashes as well.

I believe it is illegal for "normal" vehicles to use strobe lights on public roads. However, strobe lighting strikes me as an "easy" modification with significant improvement in being seen. Airplanes use them for the same reason, some with an irregular flash pattern to increase awareness. Are strobe lights truly illegal? I am not an expert on legal matters; do we have any law enforcement, lawyers or other legal experts among us? (Autozone, for example, sells strobe light kits for cars.)

If illegal, how can we change laws to allow operators of classic vehicles to add strobe lights? (Obviously the intent is not to use them for stoplights that automatically change for emergency vehicles with strobe lights!) Would there be sufficient interest among the classic car community?

Perhaps we can add lights without breaking laws; add a bright light that provides long-ish bright flashes (not unlike flashing high beams)?

(At the same time, does anyone have a favorite loud horn?)

Your thoughts? Am I crazy? (...please don't answer that one truthfully!) Please discuss.
 
Here's what's authorized in Pennsylvania:

§ 4572. Visual signals on authorized vehicles.
(a) Flashing or revolving blue lights.--Ambulance personnel, volunteer firefighters, certified volunteer search and rescue organization members and owners and handlers of dogs used in tracking humans may each equip one motor vehicle with no more than two flashing or revolving blue lights.


(b) Flashing or revolving yellow lights.--Vehicles authorized pursuant to the provisions of sections 6106 (relating to designation of emergency vehicles by Pennsylvania State Police) and 6107 (relating to designation of authorized vehicles by department), tow trucks and vehicles used for snow removal may be equipped with one or more flashing or revolving yellow lights. The manner in which the light or lights shall be displayed and the intensity shall be determined by regulation of the department.
(c) Vehicles prohibited from using lights.--No vehicle other than a duly authorized vehicle may be equipped with lights identical or similar to those specified in subsections (a) and (b). A person who equips or uses a vehicle with visual systems in violation of this section commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500.

 
I like air horns.
 
You'd have to check your state's laws. I've seen motorcycles that have pulsing brake lights. Even pulsing headlights.
 
I see bright flashing lights on bicycles all over Connecticut, tho' I'm not sure they're true "strobe" lights. One thing about bright flashing lights: seeing them can set off seizures in some people with epilepsy.
 
After I was rear-ended by a big Chevy Truck while stopped at a stop sign in my Spitfire, I thought of putting a whip antenna on my rear bumper and hanging a bright orange flag from it.
 
HealeyRick said:
Here's what's authorized in Pennsylvania:
§ ...
Click to expand...

Thanks! Looks like white flashing lights might be OK in PA...

NutmegCT said:
I see bright flashing lights on bicycles all over Connecticut, tho' I'm not sure they're true "strobe" lights. One thing about bright flashing lights: seeing them can set off seizures in some people with epilepsy.
Click to expand...

Understand the seizures bit (happens to a friend); however I am thinking of a strobe that flashes only when honking... i.e. audible "toot" plus a few flashes light to get everyone's attention. For example, a long truck where the driver might be 40 feet away from the car, not to mention sitting right next to a loud diesel engine. The truck driver has the best of intentions, but simply won't hear an LBC horn tooting at his/her back wheels.
 
No time for horn honking just make a move
drive as if your a motorcycle because that's about how big we are a Honda interstate
there is no relaxing in the bugeye its live action Video Game.and if you want to stay alive keep your head on a swevel
 
I have a third brake light on my 6. It flashes rapidly for 3 or 4 times then goes steady red.
 
and, it isn't hard to adapt your headlights into daytime running lights
 
Basil said:
After I was rear-ended by a big Chevy Truck while stopped at a stop sign in my Spitfire, I thought of putting a whip antenna on my rear bumper and hanging a bright orange flag from it.
Click to expand...

I remember seeing MGs when I was a kid (and probably Spridgets, too, since I couldn't tell them apart at the time) having bright orange tennis balls at the top of their radio antenna -- sometimes the antenna would go 48 inches over the fender.

I treat my car like it's a motorcycle and assume no one can see me. Heck, I watched someone make a left turn right in front of a motorcyclist today. We both shook our head simultaneously. I generally get a friendly wave from most motorcyclists and they must figure we're in the same boat with them. Even with the upgraded LED lighting, I still expect the worst from other drivers.

The school buses in our state (Maryland) have flashing white strobes on their roof, like an airplane. I don't know the logic behind it, but it does get your attention.

Because bicycles are not considered motor vehicles, they have a whole different set of rules for lighting. In low light conditions, I run a flashing red LED on the tail and a flashing white LED on the front. At night, I have a 700 lumen LED headlamp for the bike. I've been confused for a car when people see me coming with that light. One time when running the light in flash mode during a detail with the police department I volunteer with, I was actually asked by a park patron to stop the flashing as they had a family member who was epileptic and they feared it would trigger a seizure. Naturally, I complied.
 
Thanks to everyone for your input. I think the idea of driving like a motorcycle is an excellent summary of how we should drive - assume the worst, and always take the defensive action.

It will be a while until my car is back on the road, so I have some time to think about this. I still like the idea of an additional "driving light" (aka fog light), that is bright and wired to flash a few times when the horn is engaged. Analogous to flashing high beams. A small light, i.e. inconspicuous, is paramount.

Again, I really appreciate the dialogue and ideas.
 
Rural letter carriers have access to a portable strobe light. It has a large magnet attached to the bottom and just sits on the roof. All I have seen are clear. Might want to talk to one of them about it.
 
Popeye said:
Thanks to everyone for your input. I think the idea of driving like a motorcycle is an excellent summary of how we should drive - assume the worst, and always take the defensive action.

It will be a while until my car is back on the road, so I have some time to think about this. I still like the idea of an additional "driving light" (aka fog light), that is bright and wired to flash a few times when the horn is engaged. Analogous to flashing high beams. A small light, i.e. inconspicuous, is paramount.

Again, I really appreciate the dialogue and ideas.
Click to expand...

The more I think about your idea, the more I like it. A flashing light (strobe? rooftop?) that works only when needed (horn, brake, etc.).

I'd be interested in hearing what you learn when you ask your state DMV or DOT.

Tom M.
 
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