By signaling to oncoming traffic and vehicles approaching from the side, a front brake light provides an essential visual cue that a car is slowing down or preparing to stop. When the light is extinguished, it indicates that a stationary vehicle might initiate movement. According to Tomasch, this visual feedback can significantly truncate the reaction time for other road users, leading to shorter stopping distances and consequently diminishing the likelihood of accidents.

Sounds reasonable. Personally I just want front turn signals to be visible from the opposite side again.

looks skeptical

I think that in most cases, it's not going to be very helpful, because the amount of time that a driver in front has to do much is going to be very limited.

• It's faster for the driver behind to brake than for the driver in front to try to accelerate out of the way.

• If the driver behind is just stopping near the car in front, the time for the driver in front to make a call is going to be very limited.

Also, as I point out on computer UI, attention is a limited resource. Having more animated things trying to drag attention to them consumes that resource, distracts people, and tends to make people disregard things. If that information isn't actually really important, then adding more flashing stuff isn't a good idea.

I'd suggest, as a better alternative, that having a "caution" light on a front vehicle that detects that a vehicle behind is coming on quickly and is getting close to risking striking it automatically flash to get the driver behind's attention might be more useful, if someone is determined to add more lights flicking on and off somewhere.

I think they should have it so there's a type of "slow down" light that supplements the brake light for when your deceleration is from taking your foot off the gas.

They would probably just use the existing amber lights so noone would know if you were turning or not. I'm not bitter.

Like someone said in the hnews comments, this might work for auto transmission but with manual gearing you've got people using engine braking on hills.

Also like stated in the article the colouring is going to be an issue and trying to see some green lights whilst the headlights are on (full beam fog lights perhaps too?) doesn't seem practicable to me.

And also like, used at all.

I'd rather see mandatory rear running lights. The amount of people who can't be arsed to turn on their lights in bad visibility conditions is too damn high.

Please allow me this opportunity to jump in and complain about the minority, but not insignificant number, of people that don't seem to be aware that that is even an option (just taking your foot off of the gas/accelerator to slowly decelerate).

Every couple weeks or so I seem to find myself behind someone that's always either accelerating, or braking, with the brake lights repeatedly flashing on momentarily for no apparent reason. It's like they realize that they're going just a little faster than they want, and definitely don't want to accelerate any more, so the only thing they know to do is hit the brake, instead of just taking their foot off of the accelerator. So they've hit the brake and now they're going too slow, so foot moves off the brake and back to the accelerator. Rinse, lather, repeat.

End rant. Thank you for this opportunity to vent.

How would you do that so it isn't ugly as hell and isn't prone to misunderstanding?

Theres a saying in computer stuff that applies nicely here. PEBKAC, problem exists between keyboard and computer...turn signals have to be turned on, no amount of engineering can fix bad driving.

Rear fog lights on all vehicles (some vehicles have them now).

Yes that as well, I love mine and use them a lot. But that's a step above rear running lights. There's no god damn reasons the rear indicators shouldn't be on all the time.

and on the opposite side don’t turn on your emergency lights while driving in bad weather. you’re only causing confusion by making it seem like you have turn signals on if i can’t see both blinkers.

I read the article and the next one comes up: "Mouse Sperm Structure Unveils Asthenozoospermia Mechanisms" and my co-worker was like wtf are you reading.

Perhaps a short paragraph of text elaborating on the driver's intentions

These people might be two-footed drivers. My mother used to do this and you'd see the brakes flash on and off while following behind her because she'd be hovering her foot on the brake pedal while also hitting the accelerator.

Brake light activates before the brakes engages, so they could just be resting their foot on the brake while coasting. Pretty normal defensive driving technique. People tend to do it in heavier traffic or when people are tailgating them. Gives a way faster brake response.

Every couple weeks or so I seem to find myself behind someone that’s always either accelerating, or braking, with the brake lights repeatedly flashing on momentarily for no apparent reason.

In many EVs and Hybrids the "letting off the accelerator" engages the regeneration drag which slows the car. A number of vehicle makers with particularly aggressive drag (which gets higher regen rates) automatically illuminate the brake lights. So if you're behind one of these it will look like they are braking when they may have no foot on any pedal (brake or accelerator).