Terry, riding around with brake bulbs in place of taillight bulbs is
inconsiderate to fellow motorists (not to mention ILLEGAL in South Africa,
for good reason). Dim lights are caused by either blackened bulbs, dirty
lenses or bad circuitry. When I ride behind 3 lanes of cars at night, I sort
of like the pupils of my eyes to stay the same size while I peruse the sea
of evenly-lit taillights in front of me. By re-focusing on a taillight 10
times the brightness it should be, my pupil constricts and the other normal
taillights in the other lanes, in comparison, fade into dimness. This is
dangerous. By all means, make your taillights brighter, but WITHIN REASON.
Or attach a 3rd taillight in your rear windscreen.

Nigel

-----Original Message-----
From: CTONLINE@webtv.net [mailto:CTONLINE@webtv.net]
Sent: 26 April 2001 01:19
To: NigelB@foschini.co.za
Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Brighter tail lamps

Nigel,
Quite frankly, I was tired of being one of those obscured cars in an
adjacent lane with dangerously dim tailights.

At one point I was considering, placing a white reflective sign across
the back of my rear hatch stating; CAUTION THIS VEHICLE IS POWERED BY
THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS!!

I think VW must have studied Joe Lucas's
electrical systems very closely, and copied him to a T.

I feel that the stock tailights are way below safe standards.

And, because they are so low to the ground, they cause absolutely no
dangerous glare, or blinding light to other motorist's, as reported by
an inquiring fellow Vanogonite, who followed me for 3 miles, to find out
how to acquire the same effect on the rear of his van.

I feel so much better about being able to be seen,rather tan smacked by
the flying fools here in the Chicago area, after dark.

Later,

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Terry 85 GL

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