NHTSA Looking to Mandate Rear Turn-Signal Color

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.

Comments

And what would the percentage improvement in preventing crashes be if people actually used their turn signals on a regular basis?

H, we wouldn't know because people (in general) will never consistently use their turn signals. Here in Boston people seem to treat it as a sign of surrender/weakness.

Further increase the safety factor by requiring outside mirror amber turn signals. Most light pick-ups and several car models already have this feature.

Outside mirror signals, amber colored lenses...none of it matters if drivers are too lazy to use them.

If they're really that much safer, great, mandate them. But I still hate the look of amber turn signals, I think that lights look soooo much better in all red or red and clear.

It's about time. When will they mandate and enforce the usage of turn signals?

PS,

Amber turn signals just means it has to blink orange. It doesn't mean that the plastic casing needs orange.

In Russia drivers woke up one day and had all their red turn signals ILLEGAL. That was something!
People were cutting their lights out gluing yellow strips.
They reversed the law soon. But it was funny in 2007. Suddenly, people couldn't ship American cars over there unless replaced the lights.

And the Europeans have been amber for how long? 1960s VW Beetles could be had that way in their home country,so,why did it take 40-50 years to finally figure it out....amber eliminates the confusion factor.Duh

Aside from the comments I read about people using their blinkers (which I agree, people should utilize their blinkers more), for those who do use blinkers, I definitely agree that amber lights should be standard on all cars. Cool or not cool, red on red lights are not easily seen and, therefore, not as safe. I also agree that lights should be on the mirrors and side of the cars.

I strongly support this! Where can I sign up?

The red turn signals sometimes confuses drivers behind to decide whether the vehicle in front is just simply doing manual ABS or are they actually making a turn signal!

i find it odd that some "imports" from Europe use red instead of amber on their cars, i.e. VW Jetta, BMW 3, etc....& y does Honda, Toyota, & now Hyundai change from amber to red when they refresh a car? The Civic just did the reverse tho, from red 2 amber...

Re: Amber turn signals on mirrors. I haven't had a vehicle so equipped, but I would think they would be distracting/disorienting to the driver at night.

d,

it is only done for the American market

Dumb. Real dumb. Dumber than dumb.

More government intervention on the really small stuff while the big stuff (like solving deficits, pollution, oil dependency, wars we shouldn't be in, etc.) goes unsolved.

The WSJ did an article covering the effect lobbying has on industries. In 1994 Mazda and Subaru lead an effort to have amber turn signals become standard. GM didn't like the additional expense so they paid $175,000 to a lobbying firm, The Duberstein Group, to prevent the bill from making it to the floor. Maz & Sub argued that it would provide additional safety benefits. It's interesting to see how different companies look at their consumers safety as either an expense or as the right thing to do.

Rich,

Don't burn your pipes.
The government agency responsible for this will be there no matter what other problems we have. At least, this is not a bad thing this time, what they do.
All the other issues you've mentioned ("...solving deficits, pollution, oil dependency, wars we shouldn't be in..."), you should forward to your representative, or even directly to President Obama.

North American vehicles should have the rear amber turn signals. There is a reason why rear amber turn signals are the standard through most of the world. Side turn signal "repeaters" on fenders or mirrors are also a good idea.
Now if we could just get more drivers to use turn signals....

Yes, make them amber!!!!!!

Dave,

As you said, this has been tried before. With GM now on it's knees and (if we're lucky) no longer able to interfere, perhaps this very common sense measure can finally become law.

A note to foreign automakers who put red signals on their US models (BMW, VW, Audi, Honda, Acura, etc)... you should be ashamed of yourselves! Your own home countries do not even allow this! And to think that you like to be known for engineering and safety.

Honda's entire line-up (except Ridgeline) has amber turn signals.

WHY? 5.2% is less than significant, statistically speaking. Why mandate the manufacture change. If they want to sell their car in the USA they have a choice, it they want to sell across the pond, they have to use amber. It is their choice.
Don't we have enough problems and issues to address. Lets start this by mandating that the drivers USE their turn signals.