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There are a bunch of models of cars where the reverse lights stay on for 30-60 seconds after the car is turned off. It drives me nuts because it signals that the car is about to reverse. It also causes complacency. I have no idea why some cars are configured like this.
Because human factors engineering is no longer considered in automobile design. Sorry, but that's the truth. Rotary knob transmission selectors, constantly-changing emergency brake designs (electric and mechanical), 19 different column stalk configurations, radios where you have to go three menu levels deep to switch from an AM station to an FM station, touchscreen-controlled HVAC systems, etc., etc.,etc., etc.
They've put the software guys in charge of user interaction design and the results are predictable, unlike the operation of the functions. It is a fundamental tenet of human factors design that controls that will be operated while doing something else, ESPECIALLY if safety can be affected, should be operable without having to look at them - at a minimum, you shold be able to briefly glance just to find the button or knob.
This basic fundamental requirement of engineering a 3000-8000 lb. vehicle with 300 HP intended to be operated at speeds of up to 100 MPH by minimally trained people, has been pulled out, torn into shreds, gleefullly stamped upon, and set on fire by the current crop of computer-weenies who fancy themselves automotive controls designers.
I suggest anyone who questions this spend a week driving a 1970 model car with manual transmission and see after a week how often you need to look away from the road to operate ANY function - then get into a 2024 vehicle and see how often you need to look away from the road.
This is GM's exit lighting feature (not sure if other brands have it) to make it easy to see around the car in the dark. It's configurable for time (and even if it happens) on many GM vehicles.
If you don't see brake lights, you don't have to worry about them backing up into you...
Same reason the headlights stay on for a period of time when you get out, so you have some illumination while exiting and leaving the car. Both features bug me. With the headlights I'm thinking I left them on and stand there until they go off - just to be sure. With the reverse lights, like the OP, I'm thinking someone is about to back out only to realize nobody is in the car.
I suggest anyone who questions this spend a week driving a 1970 model car with manual transmission and see after a week how often you need to look away from the road to operate ANY function - then get into a 2024 vehicle and see how often you need to look away from the road.
It has been my experience, that once I get into a vehicle and use my 'terminator vision' ('memba when Ahnold climbed into the transtar 2 and his 'viewpoint' showed the schmatic for a fuller trans?) to figure it out, it was never a problem. I have the most memory from my OBS fords....every button by muscle memory and touch.
Yeah when I was looking for a head unit to replace the one in our 2008 vehicle out of the oodles of options out there I could find only one with a physical volume knob. So, got that one. The rest were buttons or touchscreen controlled.
Same reason the headlights stay on for a period of time when you get out, so you have some illumination while exiting and leaving the car. Both features bug me. With the headlights I'm thinking I left them on and stand there until they go off - just to be sure. With the reverse lights, like the OP, I'm thinking someone is about to back out only to realize nobody is in the car.
This is exactly what it is. it's specifically for illumination in dark parking lots or at night in the driveway. Since it's working with auto headlights, they come on anytime, but can be configured not to, or have different durations.
This is exactly what it is. it's specifically for illumination in dark parking lots or at night in the driveway. Since it's working with auto headlights, they come on anytime, but can be configured not to, or have different durations.
Such a first world problem to complain about...
It sure is, but we supposedly live in the first world (not as sure any more) so I'm complaining. I'm not spending the time to figure out changing duration but I mostly have them set to manual so I'm the one turning them on and off since that is still a knob function on my new truck.
At work we park in a parking garage. I’ve noticed some vehicles with reverse lights when vehicle is turned off. It always caught me off guard whisking they’re about to back into me. Why did these companies set up their vehicles to turn on reverse lights when the vehicle is turned off?
To provide safety lighting? I don't think my reverse lights stay on, but the headlights and other lights do for a few seconds.
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