Blog Archive

Monday, July 18, 2016

Those Hazard Lights




I have this to ask of every car manufacturer: If you are not already doing so, (most of you are not)please consider very carefully placing the button that operates the hazard lights somewhere that we drivers can find it without having to take our eyes away from the situation that is developing and forcing us to stop.

Now, as it is there suddenly develops a situation in front of us that requires us to suddenly stop and to quickly inform the traffic behind us of the danger. We dare not take our focus away from what is happening ahead, but we have to find that damn red triangle button. Most people, I guess react out of  great alarm and we find ourselves scrambling to find the button to activate those four lights.

The past three times I have needed to warn other traffic, in spite of knowing generally where the button is I still failed to locate it on a timely basis without losing my focus. If it is situated on the dashboard to the side of the steering wheel that's no good. If it is placed down on the part near the gear shift, no good because I have to look down. It can't be on the steering wheel because that moves, but perhaps if it were located directly above the steering wheel on the ceiling, or on the dashboard directly in front of the steering wheel I could find it without losing sight of the traffic in front of me.

This is a problem that has existed since motor vehicles were first created. Surely this is one that engineers can design for most efficient usage.

Hope to be able to benefit from more creative thinking on this subject soon.

Copyright (c) 2016
Eugene Carmichael

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