The problem: if only lights on one side of vehicle can be seen (for example if other side is obscured by other vehicles, as when parked or in a queue), then hazard (all indicator lights flashing) cannot be distinguished from turn.
Double light solution:
- Each light is replaced by 2 lights, one above the other, with enough gap so that they are seen as separate in difficult visibility situations.
- For turn: both lights flash at the same time, and it looks similar to existing turn indication.
- For hazard: top & bottom alternate.
This still leaves some ambiguity: this turn indication could still be a vehicle that has lots of (existing style) indicator lights and is signaling hazard.
Triple light solution:
- Each existing indicator is replaced by 3 lights.
This gives enough combinations to have a new-style turn, and a new-style hazard which are distinct from each-other, and from existing-style hazard and turn signals.
For example - with lights in a vertical line:
- Turn: top + bottom, alternating with middle.
- Hazard: one light on at a time, running up and down the three.
I think these would be quick to remember how to recognise.
By the way, I tried to do some research to see if anyone was doing anything about this and did not find anything.
I asked on Yahoo Answers to see if anyone knew of anyone working on the problem, but they could not see what the problem was - they just thought there was no problem, or answered in terms of existing lights. See: link or go via Cars & Transportation > Safety >-- Frank3, Mar 09 2009 Question in Yahoo Answers http://uk.answers.y...090309132331AALklPqHazard light / turn indicator confusion - in Yahoo Answers [Frank3, Mar 09 2009] random, halfbakery