HackerTube.dev

The Senseless Ambiguity of North American Turn Signals

Technology Connections · 4.2M views · 2018-07-14 · 13:43

Open on YouTube ↗

If playback is restricted in your region, try opening the original video. Use Mark watched to add it to your marked videos.

Overview

Technology Connections explains why North American tail light rules, which allow red turn signals and flashing brake lights, make signals ambiguous. He argues for amber signals and cites studies showing a safety benefit.

On Hacker News

HN points to it as the informative explanation of US turn signal quirks whenever signal design comes up.

Recommended by 2 HN people across 2 months · HN mentions 2020–2024

Topics

Cars, EVs & motorcyclesLaw, policing & justiceProduct & industrial design
Search by tags
turn signalsbrake lightsvehicle regulationsnhtsacar safety

What people said

gizdan · 2021-09 · Recommendation

Speaking of terrible turn signals, Technology Connections on YouTube did a very informative (though a bit ranting) video on them in the US. Worth a watch and really interesting. [VIDEO]

Read the original HN comment ↗
ljf · 2020-12 · Recommendation

For those who haven't been to the US, I was blown away that some cars use brake lights as the turn indicator - good video on the set up (and issues): [VIDEO]

Read the original HN comment ↗
branko_d · 2024-03 · Reference

> Then again, it also boggles my mind how car makers in the US continue to use flashing red lights as the turn signal instead of yellow lights. Technology Connections channel had a video about that a while back: [VIDEO]

Read the original HN comment ↗

Sources

Video by Technology Connections, played through YouTube.

Data and selection notes

HN summaries and labels may contain AI errors. HN dates refer to discussions, not video publication.

HN Library: HackerTube export (2026-10-31) and open-index/hacker-news. Upstream summaries and classifications may contain AI errors.

Views, duration and playback status refresh separately from the published catalog. When an update fails, existing data remains visible.

Selection checks
  • SaaS & AI candidates: Topic keywords do not match
  • Editor-approved picks: Editorial review is required

Rule matches identify candidates. They do not guarantee video quality or financial results.

About the library and its sources