I was driving home on the dark TransCanada Highway last night – a moonless night with just the stars – and another motorist told me that he almost crashed into my truck's back end.
I have the standard red rear tail lights and a licence plate light. Because the truck is black, he said I just faded into the darkness. Although he said he could see the lights he had no depth perception of where exactly I was in front of him because the truck was so dark and so was the highway.
Anybody know of some stealth-like reflector strip that I could put on the bumper that would be nearly invisible to the eye in the daylight but shine brightly at night?
I sure don't want to ruin the look of my '53 3100 but I also don't want to get creamed by a transport driver making up time in the middle the night…
Any ideas?
Cheers,
John
I have a few ideas:
1. Can you use LED bulbs in your taillights so you're more visible? These style are the best and are very bright:
LED Tail Light Replacement Lens2. How about a third brake/tail light?
3. There are reflectors that you can put into the bed rolls as well.
4. Only if 1, 2 and 3 don't work, can you stick magnets to the back of reflective strips so that you can apply them to the back of the truck in ideal locations only when driving at night?
As far as depth perception that sounds like his issue, but I know several people who have run stock style taillights on their rides and were nearly invisible from the rear, even in the sun, nevermind at night. Their travelling companions (me included) strongly encouraged them to put in LED's, and now their lights are nice and bright. I put LED taillights on my vehicles to ensure people can see me. I suggest you try the same.
