this post was submitted on 05 Jun 2025
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[–] JeremyHuntQW12@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/history/automotive-history-wilcot-flashing-indicators-on-a-1933-morris-isis/

The Wilcot solution was adopted by Morris for the 1933 range, except the cheapest car in the range, the Minor. In essence, on either side of the car, was a block of three lights looking very like a traffic light with red, amber and green elements. The idea was that the colour or combination of the colours, showing on one or both sides would guide adjacent traffic of the intentions of the Morris.

Combinations were more complex, inevitably, than just flashing orange lights. Ahead of a need to indicate, the driver would activate the system which would start with both left and right amber lights flashing, like modern hazard warning lights, meaning “Caution”, ahead of an indication being given.

The system was controlled by a knob inside the car, with a spring based plunger acting as a time control for any selection. To indicate turning right, the driver would then request the system to show red on the right and green on the left in a way that almost echoes nautical practice; bearing right was amber on the right and green on the left.

--

Morris threw a tantrum after the MoT approved the use of blinkers on rival Ford cars and vowed never to install them. The MoT ordered the Wicot "traffic robots" removed and so Lucas trafficators were used exclusively in the UK until Morris was sold to Pressed Metal Holdings in the 1950s (in Australia and Canada blinkers were required by law).

The thousands of unusable traffic robots were used in the foundation for a new factory in Cowley. Also used were used brake pads and used sump oil to keep the dust down.

[–] ladfrombrad@lemdro.id 7 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Like someone said in the hnews comments, this might work for auto transmission but with manual gearing you've got people using engine braking on hills.

Also like stated in the article the colouring is going to be an issue and trying to see some green lights whilst the headlights are on (full beam fog lights perhaps too?) doesn't seem practicable to me.

[–] acosmichippo@lemmy.world 8 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (5 children)

with computers these days an acceleration based system should be achievable for all types of cars. hybrid/electric cars already do it with regen braking.

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[–] sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 4 days ago (16 children)

I think they should have it so there's a type of "slow down" light that supplements the brake light for when your deceleration is from taking your foot off the gas.

[–] crank0271@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Perhaps a short paragraph of text elaborating on the driver's intentions

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[–] paraphrand@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago

This sure riled people up.

[–] DrunkEngineer@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Risk Compension predicts that drivers would simply use this new information to drive more aggressively, negating any possible safety benefits.

[–] tiramichu@sh.itjust.works 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

The classic example we already have of this is when you are stopped at a side road about to enter the main road, and a car coming towards you on the main road signals to turn in.

Many people take the fact the other car has their turn signal on as a guarantee that it's safe to emerge, but any good driving instructor will tell you to wait until the car actually begins to turn before you yourself emerge.

They had their signal on but that doesn't mean they're actually going to DO what the signal said they would.

Same with the front brake light. It would be like "Well their front brake light came on, so I assumed it was safe to step into the crosswalk" NO. They could have just tapped the brake a second, doesn't mean they saw you, or they will actually stop.

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