| There is a "License Plate Frame" out there that will flash when you "Panic Stop"...Google for it - it is about $20.
I am also trying to see if I can get this technology (controversial or not in the USA) on my wife's car after my Dad was blasted in the back at 50mph while he was stopped...Ford Focus SVT did it's job...No one hurt - Car a total loss, rear end folded up to rear seats...
Thanks all,
Jake
Adaptive Brake Lights
Expected to reduce rear collisions, adaptive brake lights flash rapidly during emergency braking. In testing, following drivers' reaction time was reduced by 0.2 seconds, which resulted in shorter stopping distances. From 50 mph, stopping distances were more than 13 feet shorter. Another Mercedes-Benz safety first, adaptive brake lights are standard equipment on the new-generation CL600 coupe as well as the limited-production 2007-model S600 and S65 AMG sedans.
The rapidly flashing LED brake lights are triggered primarily by the car's Brake Assist system (standard on all Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles since 1998), which automatically provides full-power braking assist whenever it senses faster-than-usual brake pedal application. They can also be activated by the car's ESP stability control system (standard on all Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles since 1999) if it senses low-friction surfaces such as snow or ice.
Mercedes-Benz to adopt flashing brake lights
Stuttgart Germany: Mercedes-Benz plans to add flashing brake lights to its vehicles in an effort to reduce rear-end collisions. The lights will initially enter production on the S-Class; the system has received approval by the European Union licensing authority. It will be followed by the CL-Class coupes.
Research by Mercedes engineers showed that driver reaction times are shortened by up to 0.2 seconds if a flashing red warning signal is used, instead of a conventional brake light during emergency braking. At 80 km/hr this reduced the stopping distance by approximately 4.4 metres, and at 100 km/hr by no less than 5.5 metres.
Mercedes-Benz tested various warning light systems and found that brake lights which light up four times as quickly as amber hazard warning flashers proved particularly effective in alerting drivers behind them. The study also revealed that switching on the hazard warning system in a dangerous situation has no significant effect on the reaction times of other drivers.
Adaptive brake light: Effective warning to prevent rear-end collisions
• Standard equipment in the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class
• Braking distance shortened by more than four metres at 80 km/h
In their efforts to reduce the large number of dangerous rear-end collisions, Mercedes engineers have supplemented Brake Assist PLUS with a new development which warns drivers of this risk more effectively than before: flashing brake lights.
Research by Mercedes engineers has shown that driver reaction times are shortened by up to 0.2 seconds if a flashing red warning signal is given instead of the conventional brake light during emergency braking. At a speed of 80 km/h this reduces the stopping distance by about 4.40 metres, and at 100 km/h by no less than 5.50 metres or so. This means that flashing brake lights are an effective and easily implemented way to reduce rear-end collisions. It also makes motoring safer for road users who do not drive a Mercedes-Benz.
Specialists at Mercedes tested various warning light systems during their study. Brake lights which flash four times as quickly as the amber hazard warning lights during emergency braking proved particularly effective in alerting following drivers to the danger of a rear-end collision. The Mercedes study also revealed that switching on the hazard warning system in a dangerous situation has no significant effect on the reaction times of other drivers.
In future Mercedes-Benz will make a further contribution towards a reduction in rear-end collisions by means of flashing brake lights. The EU licensing authority has recently approved this technology, and it will now enter series production in the S-Class for the first time.
Research by Mercedes engineers has shown that driver reaction times are shortened by up to 0.2 seconds if a flashing red warning signal is given instead of the conventional brake light during emergency braking. At a speed of 80 km/h this reduces the stopping distance by approx. 4.40 metres, and at 100 km/h by no less than 5.50 metres or so. This means that flashing brake lights are an effective and easily implemented way to reduce rear-end collisions. The Mercedes-Benz S Class is now the first car to feature this innovative, adaptive brake light. It will shortly be followed by the CL-Class Coup鳮
Specialists at Mercedes tested various warning light systems during their study. Brake lights which light up four times as quickly as the amber hazard warning flashers during emergency braking proved particularly effective in alerting following drivers to the danger of a rear-end collision. The Mercedes study also revealed that switching on the hazard warning system in a dangerous situation has no significant effect on the reaction times of other drivers.
?1998-2005 DaimlerChrysler. All rights reserved. | 
