sequential rear turn signals

It has come to my attention that the 2010 Mustang apparently has sequential rear turn signals; however, my understanding has always been that they were prohibited by FMVSS 108 and in fact a quick google turned up a reference to a "docket 15333" 6/3/03

Sequentially illuminated LED stop and turn signal lamps are not permitted. All light sources must illuminate simultaneously. During the initial stage the stop and turn signal lamp would not comply, in this case, with the minimum luminous lens area requirement. Additionally NHTSA does not consider lamps with a changing illuminated area to be steady-burning.

could not find full text of said docket, only a reference to it.

But... go to Ford's web site and sure enough they are advertising this as a design feature of the new 'stang. Now I think they are cool, they're certainly far less of a hazard than some things that NHTSA has permitted (high beam DRLs, HIDs without levelers, lack of requirement for turn signal repeaters, etc.) but what gives? Can't find any reference to a rule change or reinterpretation...

nate

Reply to
Nate Nagel
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I wonder if they get an exemption if those are limited production? If they are standard then not sure.

Reply to
Steve W.

I'm no lighting expert, but I think that means the LEDs within a single lamp. The mustang uses multiple lamps so I believe that is what makes it legal. technically only the outboard lamps of the 3 need to light. That's how it is on my '97. Only the corner ones function as turn signals.

Reply to
Brent

I saw a Mustang like 2 years ago with sequential turnsignal, but I think it was the high end Cobra model.

harryface

91 Bonneville 318,565 05 Park Avenue 84,789
Reply to
Harry Face

Pointless laws can get changed quite quickly in cases like this.

Reply to
SeaWoe

So, all those 'scrolling arrow' LED turn signals our emergency vehicles use are illegal?

Reply to
Paul Hovnanian P.E.

By the book, my understanding is that they would be, although I can't see a cop pulling over a fire truck.

nate

Reply to
Nate Nagel

Authorized emergency vehicles are exempt from most of those laws. Also those lights are NOT the turn signals. They are part of the emergency lighting system.

I do like one of the new NFPA requirements though. They now require the activation of the parking brake be a trigger that will shut down any front mounted white lighting.

Reply to
Steve W.

I think you mean NHTSA I hope... or is work following me home again?

nate

Reply to
Nate Nagel

Nate Nagel wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@news3.newsguy.com:

He appears to mean what he says!

formatting link

Reply to
Tegger

Nope, National Fire Protection Association. NPFA, They are the folks who write the requirements for fire equipment.

The 2009 version of the 1901 standard also requires a true black box recorder, items mounted in any passenger space have to be tested to a 9G level, new two tier lighting requirements, rear view cameras, new exhaust requirements and some others. The new requirements add at least $25,000 onto the cost of a new piece of apparatus. This on top of the latest NFPA requirement that our turnout gear has to meet....

If you guys think that the auto industry has a lot of rules/requirements and high priced gear come on into the Fire/EMS services.

Reply to
Steve W.

What about the old Impala? Not that many of those still have the sequential turn signals today, since the relay box was a nightmare.

--scott

Reply to
Scott Dorsey

I wasn't aware that any old Impalas had sequential turn signals, although some Ford products did. But anyway, they were legal when the cars were built; not sure when they were done away with. This is starting to become one of those conversations where we'd need a real automotive lighting historian to be more precise than what I've just stated.

nate

Reply to
N8N

N8N wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@u10g2000vbd.googlegroups.com:

Daniel J. Stern, maybe?

Reply to
Tegger

snipped-for-privacy@u10g2000vbd.googlegroups.com:

I might ask him out of curiosity about the whole situation, but I don't believe that he reads RAD anymore.

nate

Reply to
N8N

I think I remember 1967 Mercury Cougar cars had sequential rear turn signals.I never could see the point of sequential turn signals for cars, unless they were a styling gimmick. cuhulin

Reply to
cuhulin

1967-1972 T birds had sequentials that worked (oxymoron) off the vacuum system.
Reply to
Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B

That's about it. I remember the TV ads touting the turn signals.

Reply to
Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B

I could see a cop pulling over a fire truck,,, your tax dollars at work

Reply to
anniejrs

Just recently, at a McDonald's drive up window, a cop pulled his gun on an employee because he thought they were too slow about his order.Tax dollars at work. cuhulin

Reply to
cuhulin

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