When maneuvering in the parking lot, I've often thought that it would be really convienent to be able to signal in what direction I was going regarding forwards and backwards. Because I want to get out of this goddamn parking space, goddamnit.

Granted, they wouldn't be as useful as your left-and-rights, but they could still come in handy.
-- Eugene, Feb 29 2004

I'm wary of using my horn, for some reason. It just never occurs to me.
-- Eugene, Feb 29 2004


Doesn't your car have reverse lights? I find that if I shift in and out of reverse (fine in a manual, possibly not so good for an automatic) the people tend to get the message.
-- Freefall, Mar 01 2004


I've noticed that people tend to ignore backup lights - no matter how far along you are in the process of getting out of the parking space.

The usual response is for them to honk, and zoom by inches from your rear bumper. I try to let everybody I can out.

The three beeps of the horn might work - I'll try that.
-- normzone, Mar 01 2004


How is this (extra light signal) going to cause people to do anything differently than they do now when they see your backup liights? Just giving them another signal won't change anything. You could have fifty different backup signals, and if they're going to ignore them, they'll ignore them all.
-- oxen crossing, Mar 01 2004


I don't think it has reverse lights. I've never noticed reverse lights on any other cars.

I envisioned a couple of arrow-shaped lights--one going up for forward, one going down for reverse.
-- Eugene, Mar 01 2004


[Eugene] I don't know where you're posting from, but all cars here are made with backup lights that are white - when you put your car in reverse, they should automatically come on. Sometimes they burn out or the switch fails.

[oxen crossing] Yes, if they are prone to ignoring a visual signal, adding an auditory signal may not get their attention, but at least you're trying multiple paths to get the signal to their central processing unit.

Maybe I'll try having my girlfriend jump out of the car and lift her blouse to get their attention. Oh, and the girlfriend is now the fiancee as of this Saturday.....[gulp].
-- normzone, Mar 01 2004


//I don't think it has reverse lights// What is "it", and where ARE you posting from, as [nz] wondered.
-- oxen crossing, Mar 01 2004


//Oh, and the girlfriend is now the fiancee as of this Saturday.// Congratulations! 8D
-- spacecadet, Mar 01 2004


Thanks, [spacecadet]. Maybe I should post a Halfbakery wedding idea ? No, I don't think that's what she had in mind when she said she wanted a simple ceremony.
-- normzone, Mar 01 2004


i find the best system is to drive a wreck, people avoid getting into the situations where damage may result if your vehicle looks like you don't care what happens to it
-- engineer1, Mar 02 2004


I'm in North Carolina. Nobody ever connected the white lights to reverse.

Hell, I never thought much about the white lights on the back of cars until now. ARE there such things...?

I mean, when I'm backing into the driveway, I can't see behind me for shit unless I brake a little. Even then I gotta lean out the window a little bit to see the bit that's lit up...

OOHHH, that's where that light was coming from! Reverse lights! Hot damn!

I still think that arrow-shaped lights would be good though.
-- Eugene, Mar 03 2004


??? This is unusual - reversing lights have been on vehicles for at least 20 years. At least in Europe, and some parts of South East Asia.
Trucks have audible beepers, and securicor vans have a voice.

-- Ling, Mar 06 2004


Scanning pencil-beam laser? "Fuck outta here!"
-- dpsyplc, Mar 06 2004


//Maybe I'll try having my girlfriend jump out of the car and lift her blouse to get their attention.

She's welcome to do that ANY TIME!
-- oldvan, Jun 16 2004


[normzone], if you're after an audible signal you might care that a friend of mine has a car that beeps like a truck when it's in reverse. He bought the car from a mining company and the only modification is, inplace of the regular reversing lights, a set of special globes that also make sound.
-- Apache, Jun 16 2004



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