Interpretation ID: nht88-2.55

TYPE: INTERPRETATION-NHTSA

DATE: 06/23/88

FROM: LARRY P. EGLEY

TO: RALPH HITCHCOCK -- OFFICE OF VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS NHTSA

TITLE: NONE

ATTACHMT: ATTACHED TO LETTER DATED 08/09/89 FROM STEPHEN P. WOOD -- NHTSA TO LARRY P. EGLEY; REDBOOK A33 [2]; STANDARD 108; LETTER DATED 01/17/89 FROM LARRY P. EGLEY TO KATHLEEN DEMETER -- NHTSA; OCC 3028; LETTER DATED 05/23/89 FROM LARRY P. EGLEY TO KAT HLEEN DEMETER -- NHTSA; LETTER DATED 09/10/88 FROM LARRY P. EGLEY TO KATHLEEN DEMETER -- NHTSA; OCC 2530; REPORT DATED 09/10/88 FROM LARRY P. EGLEY, REQUEST FOR EVALUATION / INTERPRETATION OF PROPOSED INVENTION SUDDEN STOP FLASHER [SSF]; REPORT DATED 09/ 07/88 FROM LARRY P. EGLEY, AN APPEAL FOR VARIANT INTERPRETATION OF NHTSA STANDARDS AS THEY RELATE TO BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE SUDDEN STOP FLASHER [SSF]; LETTER DATED 07/13/88 FROM KATHLEEN DEMETER -- NHTSA TO LARRY P. EGLEY; LETTER DATED 06/20/88 FROM LEWIS S. BUCHANAN -- EPA TO LARRY P. EGLEY; OCC 2199; LETTER DATED 06/09/88 FROM LARRY P. EGLEY TO LEWIS BUCHANAN

TEXT: Dear Mr. Hitchcock:

I was advised by Mr. Lewis Buchanan that he had forwarded my letter regarding my "Sudden Stop Flasher" (SSF) to you for response. In the event his letter did not reach you yet, I am enclosing another copy.

I should mention to you that I have conceived of several additional features which I did not mention in my letter to Mr. Buchanan because my intent was to communicate the basic concept only. However, I might briefly mention one of them. This the "Cr ash Lock-up Mode." This feature would cause the system to "lock-up" in the rapid warning flash sequence whenever an "impact-level" deceleration is encountered. When drivers have an accident, they are often confused and disoriented and fail to take measu res to protect themselves, such as turn on the hazard warning flashers. The Crash Lock-up feature would automatically send out a continuous warning when an actual crash occurs, thus possibly preventing yet another crash. Several years ago, I read of a 56-car pile up on a Florida Interstate on a very foggy night. I believe if only a few cars in that string of smashed up vehicles had this feature, that major disaster could have been significantly less severe. The Crash Lock-up would remain actuated un til the ignition switch was recycled.

Please accept my apologies for not addressing my original letter to you instead of Mr. Buchanan. Unfortunately, I was advised by the Kansas City Office that Mr. Buchanan would be the proper recipient.

Thank you very much for your attention.