safety ideas

[backyard engineer]

Have you ever been cruising down the freeway when suddenly your nearly rear-ended? Going 50 or 55 when almost everyone else is doing 70 or 80 is kind of daring, don't ya think? Well after several close calls I began to think .... how can I get those other drivers to be a little sharper? heres what I'm doing now. On my crx I've installed yellow LED's just above my brake lights. Also installed a lot of DOT reflector tape in a custom checkerboard pattern. the LED's come with a small button to activate them. I mounted it onto my e-brake handle. LED's are about 20 bucks, and come with great 3M tape ready to install. Cheap and easy. So now when I notice someone racing up behind me I give them a couple or few warning flashes. This system works really well, most drivers change lanes a little sooner than they normally would. The DOT tape seems like it may be a little counter-productive. I think some drivers actually follow me a little longer than usual trying to decide why would anyone do that to the back of their car? After a while they figure it out.

[cfg83]

backyard engineer -

I like that a CRX is being protected. The DOT tape reminds of a racing livery.

I *think* but don't know for sure that in California you can't have any yellow lights or reflectors in the back. It's yellow in front and red in the back.

CarloSW2

[California98Civic]

I kinda like this look. Once about six weeks ago a lunatic in a massive pickup loaded with ladders and other equipment switched into my lane to pass someone on the right. I was in the slow lane on a three lane highway. I was doing 55 in a 65 (legal). He must have been going maybe 85mph (not legal). Fortunately he was at some distance behind me. But he seemed unaware of me and racing at me without slowing. We did a little game of chicken. Me trying to guess his move around me in my rear view mirror and him bouncing left, then toward the shoulder, then back at me. I went wheels onto the lines separating right from center near another car and he passed my passenger door at a far faster pace--maybe not slowed at all, driving at least half on the shoulder. Maybe your tape would have helped--maybe it would simply have helped him find me as his target. He musta been high. But I kinda like this look.

Originally Posted by backyard engineer

On my crx I've installed yellow LED's just above my brake lights. Also installed a lot of DOT reflector tape in a custom checkerboard pattern.

[Phantom]

I like the look of the red and white tape get some one to paint your hood with a similar pattern so it looks like its the cars theme.

[larrybuck]

Nice to meet someone else w an early CRX! What kind of mpg figures do you turn out? I have an '87, and my best so far is 62.9 backed up by 3 other lower 62's.

I agree w your light tapping when needed. If you check out Are you visible? on page 3 of the General Efficiency section, and also Getting the bird at on ramps on page 2 of the Hypermiling/Eco-driver's Ed section; you will see this a lot in common w you.

I read your state's veh. code; and according to Section 56-5-4590 your yellow lights are good, unless they are deemed to be too glaring. It also says that the yellow should work in conjunction with the brake lights. (56-5-4730) Would it be hard to tie your regular brakes lights in w the yellow?

You have already gone to a lot of work. I would perhaps suggest that you finesse it so you tap your foot brake equally w the yellow, so they seem connected. If a picky cop spots you, if only for the brightness of the yellow, they might make you SHOW a replay at a traffic stop.

Your state has a LOT of rules. It's a shame that your cars can't be lowered very much, but on the bright side; it looks like you could go w interior mirrors only if you chose!

Also, what I thought was cool; that if you know you will never drive at night; you could build a headlight-less very aero front end on cars.

The other idea to keep your checkered theme all over the car is ok, but it doesn't look like any reflectors except amber would be lawful? there. I would think white would be ok; but it's not mentioned. I do remember that several years ago, stock Volvo cars were built w a white reflector built into the front parking light/turn signal lense area for added parking protection at night!!

I look forward to seeing more entries by you. Your red car carries the reflectors, well!
Mine is white. I custom wrapped my license plate frame in white/red reflectors, and also have a small white backed w black lettering magnetic sign on the far left highest part of rear also framed w reflectors; and the text reads: Vendor Contract Green Speeds Only! Mpg. Checked Daily.

Aloha!

[Big Dave]

Good idea, backyard engineer. It would require Helen Keller to not see that.

I rely on my big truck. People see those.

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Good idea, backyard engineer. It would require Helen Keller to not see that.

I rely on my big truck. People see those.

...it could be called Helen Keller camouflage

[cfg83]

backyard engineer -

For those people that don't want to make the reflectors permanent, you could use the flat sheet magnets as backing for the reflector tape. On all parts of rear of the car that are metal and flat you could slap 'em on and move them around as well.

CarloSW2

[backyard engineer]

check out this diabolical plan to foil those unsuspecting drivers racing up on your rear end. On my hx fastback project car the 3rd brake light was missing. So using the same LEDs in red I fasten one strip below my license plate and wired it into the 3rd brake light harness, works great.(I know it may not be at the legal height, but that just another chance I take. ANYway under my third is a fourth LED strip only this one works with the push of a button. When I see someone coming up behind me on the expressway a little to fast, I give them a couple flashes of my decoy 3rd brake light and they quickly change lanes. I wish the button worked all my brake lights, that would be so much better! Fake brake. What do you think?

[cfg83]

backyard engineer -

Very devious (in a good way, ).

CarloSW2