Vehicle lighting/marking

lbpd16 · Jan 13, 2019

I got a cheapie amber led roof light off Amazon. It works but its not the brightest light. I also have rural route magnetic signs on the doors and rear hatch. I run alot on a busy highway and have cars run up behind me and move over at the last second. They also refuse to move over into the left lane after I deliver to a box and try to get back onto the road.

Looking for opinions. Not sure if they don't see me or if they are just stupid.

Its very possible the light is not bright enough, especially during the day in bright sun. I'm considering getting a Whelen mini lightbar. I was also considering a cheapie traffic director (a light pattern that moves from right to left) to signal traffic, which is much less expensive than the Whelen.

Also considering a large sign I can put up over the rear hatch glass, but with the pinholes so that I can see through it from the inside. My rear view is very important. Not sure how much of my view would be blocked with a sign over the rear hatch glass, even if see through type.

stillfirstclass · Jan 13, 2019

window flag

DB.Cooper · Jan 13, 2019

Someone posted a while back that the PO was handing out the window flags in some locations... some said they worked pretty well for visibility...

In my neck of the woods they gave each route (not each carrier) a LED strobe (mini light bar)... amber and white LED's flash in various selectable patterns... they're better than just the flashing amber strobes...

On busy highways, and especially at stops, I suppose running your 4-way flashers might help as well... do what you gotta do... anything beats wearing a neck brace, or worse...

MiddleOfNowhere · Jan 13, 2019

the reality is, no one is required to more over to help you return to the roadway. for police, yes, for postal workers, no. not in the state i work, anyway. i don't think thats it's they can't see you...

DB.Cooper · Jan 13, 2019

In my state, they recently made a law that says vehicles are *supposed* to move over a full lane for ANY vehicle operating with flashing lights... it wasn't well publicized, and I've never heard of anybody getting a ticket for not moving over... and many do not move over...

MiddleOfNowhere · Jan 13, 2019

our law is to move over, or slow speed to be able to stop if needed when traffic won't allow, for vehicles with red or blue flashing lights, which are limited to police, fire and ambulance. there probably the only ones that would be outside their vehicle when stopped. we've only had the law for a few years, but it seems everyone complies. lots of people run around with yellow flashers, for no visible reason.

DB.Cooper · Jan 13, 2019

I'll have to check the wording of our new law... I think I heard it was any flashing light, regardless of color...

Honestly, is a newspaper (or mail) carrier's life any less valuable than anyone else??? What about the tow truck driver???

"...The original law took effect in 1999 to reduce risk to law-enforcement officers and emergency responders. It was expanded in December 2013 to apply to every stationary vehicle with flashing lights, including road construction, maintenance and utility crews..."

btdtret · Jan 13, 2019

All -- using emergency 4-way flashers.

-- Best to check your state's law on it.

-- VMF personnel keep saying the flashers are to be used only when stopped at a mail box.

-- Sorry to say that when I used my POV and then an LLV, the head lights were on as well the 4-way flashers. I wanted to be seen by other drivers and pedestrians.

-- In my state, it is against the law to use the 4-way flashers when it is raining. Of course folks still use the wipers without turning on head lights like the law says when it is raining.

DB.Cooper · Jan 13, 2019

Seems to be lots of weird laws out there, and they vary by state... and from what I've seen, and heard... these are not well-enforced laws... i.e... not many tickets are passed out for most of them... just sayin'... do what you gotta do...

DB.Cooper · Jan 13, 2019

Another question I have in this regard... is, what is the PO's authority to tell peeps to do stuff in their POVs that is not mandated by state law???

I mean they're always coming up with something... get seatbelt extensions, turn on your headlights on a bright sun shiny day, curb your wheels, etc., etc...

It's one thing when your operating a USPS owned vehicle... but are there limits on what they can tell you to do with your POV??? Pretty sure the contracted trucks that bring the mail in the mornings aren't enduring the same level of hassle with their POV's... I mean, I've never seen anybody go out with a clipboard and check their trucks or e-brakes, etc., etc...

Morty · Jan 13, 2019

My state and the one next to me say any flashing light/hazards.

I gave up on lights or signs. No one ever moved over. Even on a long stretch of highway where you can see 2 miles ahead and see me weaving in and out of boxes. They still come up on me on my lane, no oncoming traffic, see my blinker, stay at 70mph, dont move over, dont slow down, dont go around me despite being able to see 2 miles ahead with no oncoming traffic.

MiddleOfNowhere · Jan 13, 2019

By following these two simple rules, you can help save lives, avoid receiving a traffic ticket and prevent the potential loss of your driver’s license. Iowa law requires motorists to:

Change lanes or slow down, absent any other direction from a peace officer, when approaching the following vehicles, as provided in (Iowa Code section 321.323A):
- A stationary emergency vehicle that has its flashing lights activated.
- A stationary tow, recovery, maintenance, construction, solid waste or recycling collection vehicle that has its flashing lights activated.
- Any stationary motor vehicle, including a passenger vehicle, that is continually displaying its emergency signal lamps (i.e., standard hazard lights).
Yield the right of way to an emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights or giving an audible signal by moving over to the right, stopping and waiting until the vehicle has passed before proceeding. (Iowa Code section 321.324).

i learned something by looking into this, but there seems to be a bit of ambiguity in that you must move over for a passenger vehicle with hazard lights flashing, and the others listed above, but a strobe light isn't an emergency signal light, the problem with driving with four way flashers going, is that your turn signals no longer work, and i believe they stop flashing, when you apply your brakes.

oi veh. · Jan 14, 2019

I have "FREQUENT STOPS" in 2 foot high letters across my back window, white strobe, run my 4ways AND they still act blind.

DB.Cooper · Jan 15, 2019

LOL... they stop and cause a 14 car pile up... but the mail keeps on truckin'...

lbpd16 · Jan 15, 2019

after reading a few of these posts maybe I won't waste my money on a better light and a sign. Seems no matter what I do I will still have this problem

btdtret · Jan 15, 2019

Ibpd16 -- "after reading a few of these posts maybe I won't waste my money on a better light and a sign. "

-- Should you get hit by another vehicle, might be better for you in court if you can tell the judge / jury your vehicle had a flashing light and or signs indicating you were delivering mail.

egg250 · Jan 15, 2019

I got this from Amazon: High Intensity Law Enforcement Emergency Hazard Warning LED Mini Bar Strobe Light with Magnetic Base 12V-24V (Amber/Yellow)
It is water resistant, but high pressure water from a car wash will definitely get in there. It was $40.

egg250 · Jan 15, 2019

PastOThirty said:
You really have to check state law. Here, not supposed to have white flashers in the rear unless explicitly a traditional emergency vehicle (ambulance, fire, police), but numerous carriers do (the front is not disallowed). Here, amber is the only rear flasher you should use. White in the front is allowed if alternating with amber, but personal experience is that white confuses some people and they think you are an emergency vehicle and pull over as a precautionary/curtesy move.

I don’t particularly care for the Omni-directional beacons because they are a big distraction to drivers. I also think signs are pointless except as a door protector. No one can read a magnetic sign from far enough away in highway cases for it to make much difference. Magnetic signs serve the practical purpose of door dent decreased.

The picture on Amazon isn't really accurate, the light is amber all around.

DB.Cooper · Jan 15, 2019

The one the PO provided in my locale, had the white and amber strobe... sort of a mini-light bar... you can select various strobe patterns via a toggle on the plugin adapter...

lbpd16 · Jan 27, 2019

I got a large sign for my rear window. US Mail Frequent Stops. I'm also thinking of getting a 7" tall amber LED beacon that is SAE Class 1 rated. The cheap China light just cant be seen during a sunny day. Maybe the taller light will be more visible