Have you been shopping for a Jeep Wrangler and seen bumper stickers or tire covers that say something like “if you can read this, flip me over”? We’re not sure how you got your Jeep with the shiny side down, but CarBuzz has found a new patent that might get you help when you need it most. It covers enhanced safety lights that deliver better warnings when a car has been in a crash.
That includes clearly alerting other drivers, even if your vehicle is on its roof.
More Flashing Lights To Warn Others
Stellantis Hazard PatentStellantis
Every car or truck has hazard flashers. These are the lights you’re supposed to turn on to show that your vehicle is a hazard on or near the road. But hazard flashers aren’t always up to the task, especially after a crash when the vehicle has rolled or the lights have been broken. Or in the case of low visibility.
The solution? Lights attached underneath the car, built to be much more durable than the headlights and taillights. The patent drawing shows two lights on a vehicle, each one mounted near the front or rear bumper.
In a crash, the under-car lights would come on and show a flashing red or amber light. They would aim the light in a wide field, 120 to180 degrees, but the light would not point back toward the vehicle. That could help avoid blinding occupants trying to get out of the car or first responders attending the scene.
The invention would automatically deploy the lights. If an airbag inflates or if a sensor detects that the vehicle has rolled over or onto its side, the lights will engage.
Could Undercar Lights Help More Than Just Safety?
Ford Expedition Light Test 2Ford
While the lights are designed for emergency use, the driver could also use them any time they want extra illumination. In the patent, the engineers say that the lights could emit white light, and while they could flash, they could also deliver solid light.
A solid light underneath might be useless on a car, but on a taller SUV it could be a great way to see the trail close to the vehicle. It could also help illuminate the area around the vehicle for better parking camera performance at night.
Vehicle lighting is serious business in France, especially after a crash. Drivers must carry a warning triangle and high-visibility vest in their vehicle at all times, and they must use them or face fines or other penalties. You also have to replace burned-out bulbs immediately – not when you get to the parts store.
That’s probably why this invention came from Stellantis engineers in that country. They don’t have to make yellow headlights anymore, so they needed something else to do.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
A shot of the 2011 Lotus Elise hazard light switchLotus
Rollover crashes are rare, but when they happen, the run-on effects can be serious. If another vehicle hits a rolled car, it won’t engage with the car’s safety systems, making injury or death more likely. It doesn’t help when those rolled cars are impossible to see. This could solve the visibility problem, and that could reduce the odds of a second crash and the casualties that come with it.
Even better, if your vehicle rolls on an empty road – maybe a failed deer avoidance? – this could be your best chance to be seen by a passerby before it is too late.
Patent filings do not guarantee the use of such technology in future vehicles and are often used exclusively as a means of protecting intellectual property. Such a filing cannot be construed as confirmation of production intent.
Source: INPI
