Rear Turn Signals: Red or Amber?

[buickgnx88]

Most countries require amber turn signals in the rear, while a couple allow red lights as well. The question I'm posing is a two parter: what color rear turn signals do you have on your car(s) (if you have a car), and what color do you think is better to have?

 

[Beeblebrox237]

I prefer red or clear coloured indicators when not lit, it looks cleaner.

EDIT: I should clarify that I have a slight bias towards the actual light being orange, purely for safety.

 

[Jet Badger]

Orange/Clear and not red(atleast when lit). You drive behing an other car and WTF its stop light starts binking. Stupid USspec cars

 

[motortrend]

Mine were amber and I put red overlays, it looks much cleaner that way IMO. On some cars I do dig the rear amber though (like a 930) though I'd go all red on a 993

Orange/Clear and not red(atleast when lit). You drive behing an other car and WTF its stop light starts binking. Stupid USspec cars

On some cars the ambers are for the US market like on the E36

 

[Bopop4]

My Dad has talked about this so many times, red turn signals are awful because they are the same colour as the brake lights. It can be hard to distinguish between the two.

That being said, I prefer red turn signals from an aesthetic point of view, much nicer look.

 

[buickgnx88]

Poll added.

I prefer the look of amber signals, and do like how they don't take away from the brake light like on many red-signal vehicles. In fact, I changed out the lights on my Wrangler to the European spec lights that have the separate amber turn signals.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Now that I think about it, what car was the first car to have the standard red for brakes, amber for turning, and white for reversing?

 

[Keef]

Basically only American companies ever make them red. But they shouldn't be red. Even on American traffic signals, they only flash red at stop signs or when traffic lights are inoperable. Last time I checked, a car changing lanes on the highway with red rear blinkers is neither stopping nor is it inoperable. Therefore, the red blinkers are completely illogical.

Yellow is the internationally recognized color of "Yo!", and thus it's used every place where attention is demanded, such as green lights about to turn red, or at crosswalks, or dangerous intersections, or on cars changing direction.

Once again, Japan does American better than America.

 

[Exorcet]

Amber is superior in utility and aesthetics.

 

[Greycap]

One of my cars has orange while the other one sports white signals, both factory stock and I actually prefer them just like that considering the colours of the cars. Both flash orange as usual.

 

[Pupik]

I prefer the amber/yellow color; clear bulbs or entirely clear lenses look "cheap", in my opinion. But I don't care too much whether it's missing amber in the lens or not, but I attest I like the color, to an extent...

Yellow is for caution and warning. In North America, traffic signals and road signs are colored yellow serve in advisory situations.

Red is almost always reserved for stopping or some sort of vehicular prohibition (do not enter, yield, the "no" sign, et cetera).

Braking serves an immediate notice rather than lane-changing, although they are each important enough to represented by different colored signals.

Both our cars have clear lenses around the signals with amber bulbs.

 

[Slash]

I hate the amber lights in the rear, in the front they are ok. I just think they look stupid. I'd rather have red.

 

[Liquid]

I hate the amber lights in the rear, in the front they are ok. I just think they look stupid. I'd rather have red.

Any particular reason why?

I'm with Keef and Pupik; it's important to differentiate between caution and stopping. Amber for me.

 

[Slash]

Any particular reason why?

I'm with Keef and Pupik; it's important to differentiate between caution and stopping. Amber for me.

I think the overall red makes it look cleaner. Stuffing the yellow in cramps this and most examples look sloppy to me IMO.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

In reference to (specifically) the Lexus SC400 vs. Toyota Soarer SC400, I'd go with the Soarer. The rear lights are beautiful on the JDM spec, and miserable on the ADM spec.


ADM:

JDM:

P.S.,

Spider-man, spiderman, drives whatever he 🤬 can.

Much prefer these.

 

[Organ-Donor]

I have red on the Vette, but I do like the euro amber 'eyelid' they have on half of the light, especially on the C6. On the GTR I like it, clear until it blinks amber.

 

[motortrend]

In reference to (specifically) the Lexus SC400 vs. Toyota Soarer SC400, I'd go with the Soarer. The rear lights are beautiful on the JDM spec, and miserable on the ADM spec.


ADM:

JDM:

P.S.,


.

Those are not JDM, those are some ugly (IMO) aftermarket tails
These are the soarer ones

edit:
my car with ambers/reds

IMO at least in my car it looks cleaner all red but like I said I dig the orange on some cars

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

Link doesn't work. I'd really like to see which taillights you think are the JDM tailllights, but... you missed the link by a bit...

 

[Hayden]

For future reference, If you see a broken link like that you can usually find the picture by right clicking, selecting to copy image URL and pasting it in your web adress thingo

Orange/clear for me, for both safety and aesthetic appeal. The thought of red indicators just seems silly and unsafe when the brake lights are the same colour... That's just my opinion though 👍

EDIT: Was I ninja'd? Cool...

 

[JacoJa]

If a car has (old-school) coloured covers with bulbs instead of LED's, then red looks cleaner. If it's for safety, ember is far better. Every time I've driven in the US, I always hated the blinking stop lights. Makes no sense at all... Braking and turning should be completely different colours.

 

[OHM_fusion]

On American cars red fits a lot better, looks wise. But IMO it's lazy design and just stupid. It's not so bad if the bulb is separate, but in most cases (older cars mostly) the bulb is the same for the rear light, turn signal and the brake light! Ridiculous, especially if you can only see one side of the car in traffic.

Recently I've read that the US was supposed to make amber rear turn signals mandatory, but the people in the comments were against it because they don't want that "stupid euro look".

But I guess everyone wants what they can't have, I've seen owners of euro-spec Neons, Park Avenues, New Yorkers here swap the taillights for the US versions, and yet some Americans swap their all-red taillights for the euro ones.

 

[Grayfox]

Amber or clear(with amber bulb)

Why are American car side lights orange and not white?

 

[niky]

Amazing how you can get everyone to agree on light colors and conventions for traffic signals, aircraft and shipping, but America gets to go its own way on car lighting purely for aesthetic reasons...

 

[Northstar]

Amazing how you can get everyone to agree on light colors and conventions for traffic signals, aircraft and shipping, but America gets to go its own way on car lighting purely for aesthetic reasons...

We're a nation of hipsters.

Just like metric is too mainstream, so are amber signals regardless of how much sense they make.

 

[TheBook]

My turn signals are clear until the amber bulb turns on, which is how I prefer it.

 

[Pupik]

Amber or clear(with amber bulb)

Why are American car side lights orange and not white?

Because they're effectively turn signals.

 

[buickgnx88]

But I guess everyone wants what they can't have, I've seen owners of euro-spec Neons, Park Avenues, New Yorkers here swap the taillights for the US versions, and yet some Americans swap their all-red taillights for the euro ones.

Like I said earlier, I did this on my Wrangler.

Yes there are a lot of stickers...

 

[Slick Rick]

Personally I prefer red. I sprayed my orange indicators red for a cleaner look but I guess its probably a little safer and better for other road users when indicators flash orange as sidelights and brakelights are red already and it could be confusing....

 

[Slash]

Not to mention yellow on American trucks looks like utter garbage.

 

[Worst_Driver]

I prefer amber but you can't go wrong with that.