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Comment on Why haven't car manufacturers standardized automatic brake lights when a built in accelerometer detects deceleration?

Creat@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

Because there are laws that specify when the brake light has to come on, and it isn’t when the car shows down (slightly). You could be starting to go up hill, or a list of other reasons. The point of brake lights isn’t too signify the car slowing, but that the driver intends to slow down. Which is also why it doesn’t come on if you’re motor breaking" (is that the right term?).

This obviously varies wildly depending on where you are in the world. I’m also sure there are some places where it would be allowed.

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Jimbo@yiffit.net ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

Which is also why it doesn’t come on if you’re motor breaking" (is that the right term?)

I believe the term you technically want is engine braking

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- Creat@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Oh yes, that sounds right. Thanks!
  
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pokemaster787@ani.social ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

Because there are laws that specify when the brake light has to come on, and it isn’t when the car shows down (slightly).

To be clear, the laws say when it must illuminate. They do not (in the US) prevent illuminating it for other reasons in any way. The law says the light must illuminate/burn if you are actively pressing the gas pedal, but does not prevent it from also illuminating if a certain amount of regenerative braking is applied or a deceleration is detected. Theoretically an automaker could get away with making the brake lights simply always illuminate (and that loophole would be fixed in days, so no one does it).

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- Creat@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  That is indeed US-specific. I’m in the EU, and here it’s defined by when and how it’s switched. Specifically, it is required to be tied to the brake pedal (i.e. then intention to brake) and/or the hand brake being pulled. It is not allowed to illuminate otherwise. But the exact specifics probably also vary by country here. That’s why I emphasized that part.
  
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  - pokemaster787@ani.social ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Yep, EU as usual having reasonable and well-thought out laws, give the US about 5 more years and they’ll make it law here too.
    
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