Quote:
Originally Posted by davepl
The federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) requires tail lights be red and that the vehicle have red reflectors on the back. I won't get too preachy, but there are reasons for this kind of stuff....
As for me, I want to make it as hard to rear end me as possible. Scary enough driving these things!
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Just to go into more detail, technically speaking tail light lenses don't need to be red. The light emitted from the tail lights must be red though.
Red reflectors are required on the rear of the vehicle. The reflectors can be separate from the tail lights or integrated into them. As long as the reflectors meet the surface area requirements they can be placed anywhere.
So clear tail lights are legal as long as the rear of your vehicle meets the above requirements. In fact some of the 2000's Mini Coopers came with clear tail light lenses and bumper mounted red reflectors from the factory.
I agree with davepl though, I want to make my vehicle easy to see. Often the bulb solution for clear tails doesn't emit the greatest looking light and looks subpar when not lit. Many are actually dipped in a plastic to create a coating but it usually fades pretty quick. Red LED bulbs help but then there's the reflector issue. Get hit or stopped by a cop who knows his stuff and you'll probably be wishing for red tail lenses.