Roadside LED warning lights

[ScopesNC]

Originally Posted by RRR

What FL420 says.

I spent the better part of my career driving at night. Twice in the later years before retirement I came on someone using these type of lights. Yes, the are visible, but you see them blinking down on the ground and the brain says "What is this?" Your eyes stay focus on them and by time the brain catches up with what you are seeing you start seeing the dark outline of vehicle, and are getting too close.

I'll stick with triangles and flares, and a reflective vest if I'm out. And stow them in a curbside compartment so your not in traffic.

I'm not sure I understand this. Seems everything you list is down on the ground. Flares more so than the lights. Triangles not but a few inches higher.
Now maybe if the lights ( and they have hooks ) were hung off the triangles it would work a tad better. I know I have the lights and think they will work really well. I have some small 18 inch road cones also. Maybe I should hang the lights off of them. Who knows? As long as I can get their attention I guess that is all that matters.

[RRR]

Originally Posted by Seon

Brain should say, "Must be a stalled vehicle up ahead" and I should slow down .

Originally Posted by Rolling Chaos

I'm not sure I understand this. Seems everything you list is down on the ground. Flares more so than the lights. Triangles not but a few inches higher.
Now maybe if the lights ( and they have hooks ) were hung off the triangles it would work a tad better. I know I have the lights and think they will work really well. I have some small 18 inch road cones also. Maybe I should hang the lights off of them. Who knows? As long as I can get their attention I guess that is all that matters.

True, but the brain doesn't always compute correctly at Zero Dark Thirty.

Maybe in 25 years or so when LED lights sitting on the ground become the norm rather than the exception replacing flares and triangles.

I do agree on the "get their attention," but the sad fact is there could be the chorus line from a Vegas casino dancing and half or more people wouldn't see them.

[FL420]

Originally Posted by Rolling Chaos

Maybe I should hang the lights off of them. Who knows? As long as I can get their attention I guess that is all that matters.

The effectiveness of red reflective triangles as both attention getting devices, communication devices AND directional devices has been well-established over many events and years. Every Commercial Motor Vehicle(CMV) is required to have a complete set onboard and every CDL driver is required to deploy them in a certain way, in certain places and within a certain time period. Many of the RVs we operate are similar in size and sometimes larger than many CMVs.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires all operators of a CMV involved in a situation causing it to be stationary and disabled on or beside a roadway to turn on their 4 way amber flashers immediately when they are stopped. They then must deploy their 3 red reflective triangles within 10 minutes. They must be deployed in one of three patterns depending on the road design at the site.
A fairly recent change to the regulation requires one of the triangles must be placed 100'(~40 paces) in front of the vehicle in the direction of travel when stopped on or beside an undivided straight, level, two lane, two way road so oncoming headon traffic can be alerted to the stopped vehicle ahead. Previously all 3 triangles were to be deployed behind the CMV.
If the CMV is stopped on a one way or a divided, straight, level, four lane or more roadway the operator is required to deploy the first triangle 10'(~4 paces) directly behind the rear roadside corner of the vehicle (I suggest inline with the rear turn/brake/hazard) lights) out of the traffic lane if possible. The second triangle is to be placed 100'(~40 paces) directly behind the center of the vehicle (I suggest inline with the trailer hitch or third brake light.) The third triangle is to be placed another 100'(~40 paces) curbside or passenger side (I suggest inline with the passenger side tail lights.)
Oncoming passing traffic will see the three triangles soon enough to maneuver and their angled placement points them to the recommended safe side to pass the CMV. A driver not paying attention will hit at least one triangle before hitting the stopped vehicle which may get their attention in time. When placing the triangles it is recommended to hold them in the unfolded position in front of your chest to alert oncoming drivers to your presence and location. I also wear a high quality orange and lime safety vest with reflective white stripes whenever I am deploying triangles, checking tow dolly tire straps or any other activity outside the coach on the side of the road.
The final scenario for placing triangles is when stopped within 500' of the crest of a hill, the bend of a curve or any other obstruction to vision of approaching drivers where the sight distance(s) of approaching drivers may be reduced or restricted. The operator will place one triangle from 100' to 500' from the vehicle in the direction of the obstruction to vision. The other two triangles should be placed based on the road design.
I carry my safety vest and a 3 cell LED Maglite in my seatback pocket and my triangles in the compartment under my entry steps. I have had to deploy my triangles on the roadside twice in recent years.
[emoji40]

[ScopesNC]

Originally Posted by RRR

I do agree on the "get their attention," but the sad fact is there could be the chorus line from a Vegas casino dancing and half or more people wouldn't see them.

Maybe a marching band ?

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by FL420

The effectiveness of red reflective triangles as both attention getting devices, communication devices AND directional devices has been well-established over many events and years. Every Commercial Motor Vehicle(CMV) is required to have a complete set onboard and every CDL driver is required to deploy them in a certain way, in certain places and within a certain time period. Many of the RVs we operate are similar in size and sometimes larger than many CMVs.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires all operators of a CMV involved in a situation causing it to be stationary and disabled on or beside a roadway to turn on their 4 way amber flashers immediately when they are stopped. They then must deploy their 3 red reflective triangles within 10 minutes. They must be deployed in one of three patterns depending on the road design at the site.
A fairly recent change to the regulation requires one of the triangles must be placed 100'(~40 paces) in front of the vehicle in the direction of travel when stopped on or beside an undivided straight, level, two lane, two way road so oncoming headon traffic can be alerted to the stopped vehicle ahead. Previously all 3 triangles were to be deployed behind the CMV.
If the CMV is stopped on a one way or a divided, straight, level, four lane or more roadway the operator is required to deploy the first triangle 10'(~4 paces) directly behind the rear roadside corner of the vehicle (I suggest inline with the rear turn/brake/hazard) lights) out of the traffic lane if possible. The second triangle is to be placed 100'(~40 paces) directly behind the center of the vehicle (I suggest inline with the trailer hitch or third brake light.) The third triangle is to be placed another 100'(~40 paces) curbside or passenger side (I suggest inline with the passenger side tail lights.)
Oncoming passing traffic will see the three triangles soon enough to maneuver and their angled placement points them to the recommended safe side to pass the CMV. A driver not paying attention will hit at least one triangle before hitting the stopped vehicle which may get their attention in time. When placing the triangles it is recommended to hold them in the unfolded position in front of your chest to alert oncoming drivers to your presence and location. I also wear a high quality orange and lime safety vest with reflective white stripes whenever I am deploying triangles, checking tow dolly tire straps or any other activity outside the coach on the side of the road.
The final scenario for placing triangles is when stopped within 500' of the crest of a hill, the bend of a curve or any other obstruction to vision of approaching drivers where the sight distance(s) of approaching drivers may be reduced or restricted. The operator will place one triangle from 100' to 500' from the vehicle in the direction of the obstruction to vision. The other two triangles should be placed based on the road design.
I carry my safety vest and a 3 cell LED Maglite in my seatback pocket and my triangles in the compartment under my entry steps. I have had to deploy my triangles on the roadside twice in recent years.
[emoji40]

Good info! Thanks!

[FL420]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

Good info! Thanks!

You're very welcome.
Stay safe out there. Vehicle accident rates are high and still climbing this past year.
[emoji40]

[ScopesNC]

Originally Posted by FL420

Stay safe out there. Vehicle accident rates are high and still climbing this past year.
[emoji40]

I wonder why that is? You would think with covid and people staying home more that it wouldn't be as high. I'd have never guessed the number was up.

[RRR]

Originally Posted by FL420

The effectiveness of red reflective triangles as both attention getting devices, communication devices AND directional devices has been well-established over many events and years. Every Commercial Motor Vehicle(CMV) is required to have a complete set onboard and every CDL driver is required to deploy them in a certain way, in certain places and within a certain time period. Many of the RVs we operate are similar in size and sometimes larger than many CMVs...

True. But maybe 1 in 10 properly display the triangles. Just look at the next CMV that you see sitting along side of the road.

[FL420]

Originally Posted by RRR

True. But maybe 1 in 10 properly display the triangles. Just look at the next CMV that you see sitting along side of the road.

I think your numbers are way off but it is a significant problem. Regardless, I can only lead the horse to water.

[FL420]

Originally Posted by Rolling Chaos

I wonder why that is? You would think with covid and people staying home more that it wouldn't be as high. I'd have never guessed the number was up.

Reportedly it is due to speeding, aggressive driving and distracted driving. The DW and I need to drive RT through Denver on I-25 about twice a month this past year and have observed these phenomena many times over.
I find myself using the rear view mirror a lot more than I used to so I can become aware of the lane weavers, the drivers approaching at far greater speeds than the flow of traffic and the drivers looking down at their laps instead of ahead at the road.
A few weeks ago a bunch of people blocked off I-225 in Denver for several miles. They used their cars to block off not only the pavement but also the shoulders to the side barrier walls so they could drag race. They generated a traffic jam of more than 600 cars and the police had a hard time getting to them and clearing them even when they got to them.
Psychological researchers will have to discover the reasons for the behaviors. I personally think there is an increasing lawlessness in this country perhaps fostered by poor role models in our country's leadership in recent years.
[emoji40]