The problem: if only lights on one side of vehicle can be
seen (for example if other side is obscured by other
vehicles, as when parked or in a queue), then hazard (all
indicator lights flashing) cannot be distinguished from
turn.
Double light solution:
- Each light is replaced by 2 lights,
one above the other,
with enough gap so that they are seen as separate in
difficult visibility situations.
- For turn: both lights flash at the same time, and it
looks similar to existing turn indication.
- For hazard: top & bottom alternate.
This still leaves some ambiguity: this turn indication
could still be a vehicle that has lots of (existing style)
indicator lights and is signaling hazard.
Triple light solution:
- Each existing indicator is replaced by 3 lights.
This gives enough combinations to have a new-style
turn, and a new-style hazard which are distinct from
each-other, and from existing-style hazard and turn
signals.
For example - with lights in a vertical line:
- Turn: top + bottom, alternating with middle.
- Hazard: one light on at a time, running up and down
the three.
I think these would be quick to remember how to
recognise.
By the way, I tried to do some research to see if anyone
was doing anything about this and did not find anything.
I asked on Yahoo Answers to see if anyone knew of
anyone working on the problem, but they could not see
what the problem was - they just thought there was no
problem, or answered in terms of existing lights. See:
link
or go via Cars & Transportation > Safety >