Red Turn Signals Are Dangerous

Reduce Accidents by Regulating Color of Turn Signals

Car manufacturers compete on a regular basis for winning top safety awards. Their accomplishments are advertised vigorously to show you how much research and development was undergone to prove their deservedness of the coveted 5 star safety rating. Images of a crash dummy in a test vehicle slamming against a concrete wall come to mind.

Sarcastically we must say ‘thank you’ to all of the car manufacturers that create safe vehicles, but cut costs by using red turn signals instead of amber turn signals. Car manufacturers can actually cut costs by using red turn signals which is “likely due to the lower component cost of making an all red lamp housing” according to Cnet.com.

The User Experience Problem

Have you ever thought someone was just applying the brakes, only to realize that they’re turning? You might have been confused due to their vehicle’s red turn signal.

It is sometimes hard to differentiate if a car is braking, braking and turning, or just turning if the vehicle has a red turn signal. If the turn signal is the same color as the brake light, the pattern is more difficult for drivers to interpret than if the turn signal were amber colored.

Whether it be driver fatigue, boredom, day dreaming, or addiction to texting and driving, drivers will inevitably rear end other drivers. Using a red turn signal instead of an amber turn signal puts drivers at an increased risk to get into an accident.

According to a 2009 report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “amber signals show a 5.3% effectiveness in reducing involvement in two-vehicle crashes where a lead vehicle is rear-struck in the act of turning left, turning right, merging into traffic, changing lanes, or entering/leaving a parking space. The advantage of amber rear turn signals is shown to be statistically significant.”

And what is done with that information? Car manufacturers still make vehicles with red turn signals...

The U/X Solution

1. Mandate all new vehicles be equipped with amber colored turn signals

2. Dock safety ratings of existing and newer vehicles with red turn signals

We very much are opposed to the over regulation of businesses, however some regulations are necessary. When it is statistically proven that something as simple as the color of a turn signal can reduce accidents, then we should do all that we can to reduce accidents by making car manufacturers use amber turn signals.

Similarly, vehicles with red turn signals should be docked in their safety ratings as that vehicle is more likely to be rear-ended than its amber counterpart.

To play devil’s advocate: if car manufacturers are required to have amber turn signals, shouldn’t they also be required to equip every vehicle with technology like blind spot monitoring?

There is a vast difference between requiring all vehicles to have blind spot monitoring and altering the color of their turn signals. The cost differential between the two is significant. The color of your turn signal is an after thought and is not advertised as a selling feature that promotes safety. The color of the turn signal, instead, is a way to protect consumers who are unwittingly purchasing a vehicle that could put them in more jeopardy.

Conclusion

Statistics show that amber colored turn signals are safer than red colored turn signals. Car manufacturers should be regulated to make this simple design change, or at least penalized in the safety ranking system. While it could be argued to force car companies to include other safety features on their vehicles, such as blind spot monitoring (BSM), the amber vs. red turn signal feature is often overlooked by consumers while features like BSM are prominently advertised.

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