Anyone know if the 11' XKR has the flicker mode I've seen in clips of XKRs and others? Not at home to check manual and was wondering.

 

What's this flicker mode? It sounds exciting!

 

LED taillights pretty much always flicker when filmed, it's not a special function, that's just how they are...

 

It's the way the lighting reflects off of LED taillights. Sometimes they look "on" if you take a still picture.

 

No. I believe they are flashing like a pace car. They are on in some video clips and also on other cars like 458.

Is it only on XKR-S

 

Could you share some of these clips with us?

 

It's unlikely that there is a true flicker mode at either end from the factory because they would be illegal under FMVSS.

 

I need to do a good clip of my car, as I have the Kahtec "Smart Stop Delay" on my 3rd brake light.... Absolutely love it...
Something worth adding to any car.

 

Now, the flashing 3rd brake light is legal under FMVSS as long as it is 5? flashes or under, then solid.

Mine is the Backoff XP.

Most following drivers tend to leave more room or go around. Either is fine

 

Is there any evidence/data to suggest that these flashing rear brake lights actually reduce rear end crashes?

 

None that I have seen in writing, but I can tell you I first encountered it on track, and it certainly grabs your attention quickly. Seeing is believing, and that was enough right there for me to hunt down Kahtec.

I think it is focused on the "attention" aspect more than anything..... It stabs thought the constant sea of steady red that your eyes are just so use to seeing...

I do recommend the "Delay" version, because in town sitting behind a constantly blinking light would really start to irritate the car behind you.

Vince

 

There have been studies by the SAE, DOT and Mercedes that say yes. Mercedes was the first to introduce it in the US as a feature in some of their high end cars under a special exemption. The exemption has since expired. People who study the cognitive sciences will also point out that "motion" registers more quickly for most people.

There is also anecdotal evidence from the motorcycle crowd who are the primary market for these devices. Almost no arguments that they are not needed from that crowd. As a matter of fact, some motorcycle training courses teach riders to flash the brake lights manually before getting on the brakes fully. The devices just do it automatically.

Just like the motorcycle crowd, car drivers find following cars leave more room or go around. They do not crowd the bumper in the same way as before the addition. And just like the motorcycle crowd, some knowledgable drivers tap the brakes before getting on them fully if they feel that the following vehicle is too close, or the driver is not paying attention.

With the number of drivers who do everything other than driving while behind the wheel, the flasher is a needed shield.

Of course, it is like DRL's. The more common they get, the more often they get ignored.

 

Here an example.

 

Yes great example. And I usually see them on a track. Notice how the brake lights don't flash but the regular lights do.

Must be a setting or feature of some sort.

 

Nope. That is the nature of LEDs. Since LEDs cannot change brightness, when you want to "dim" them, they simply turn on and off really fast. The eye perceives this as having a lower intensity, but a camera doesn't do what our eye/brain does. Some of the frames catch the lights in their full on state, and some catch them on their full off state.

 

The ones I have seen do not seem to flash quickly enough. Plus if you are using them with standard incandesent taillights, the taillights cannot go full and off quickly enough to really make a huge difference. When I'm behind a car with incandescent tails and the third brake light flashes slowly over the course of one second, I feel like it actually defeats the purpose of a third brake light and actually reduces my reaction time, as it takes a fraction of a second to realize what's going on.

For example, this one sucks and I could see it causing accidents in a panic braking situation:


However, if used with LEDs I could see them being effective. Have you ever seen one of those newer ambulances/firetrucks with the LED taillights (large squares)? They quickly stammer just once before going full on but it really catches your attention.

When it's used in conjunction with an LED, I think it makes sense!