Dissapointed LED Side markers..........

[ControlNode]

There are reflectors in the headlights and the taillights.

Thank you.

As far as I can see, most of what is on the headlight is just diffusers. There may be a small little clear/white reflector on the inner lower corner, right next to the grill and not visible from the side. Again, I'm just sharing information about the requirements as they are written, and trying provided a clean solution if you really don't like the amber side marker on the fender. And I'll be honest, I've not measured the height of the headlight, perhaps the reflector up there is higher than the standards allows and that is why Ford didn't integrate it in the headlight light they did with the Focus RS I have. But I still feel that having the reflector, even if not located 100% within the MVSS rules is safer than removing it altogether.


As far as passing safety inspections, again some people don't care about doing their job thoroughly. In my state we recently had a guy sentenced for inspection fraud, he was inspecting the vehicles as though they were from a non-emissions check county. Everyone says no one cares about catless downpipes and rolling coal, well this inspector didn't, it's put him in prison for a year and a $1,200,000 fine. They knew he was doing it and let him keep doing it to get a bigger punishment after 15,000 vehicles. I go to the shop I go to for my inspections because the guy there is thorough, even rolls out the headlight output tester for the inspections. As for what police look at, again some are lazier than others or figure they would worry about somethings when they are just looking to tack on a stack for someone being an ass during a routine stop. I've been ticketed in my driveway for my Focus RS popping from the exhaust on my way home, the officer would not listen to me when I stated Ford programmed the car to do that. He just said, "I see these around town all the time and none of them do that.", I tried to inform him that only the RS trim has that feature and in the last year I've not seen another one in down, at that time I was delivering pizza so I was on the roads a lot. NC does have a law that you may not alter the vehicle to increase the sound of or cause unusual noise from the exhaust, so had that not been a stock feature of my car he would have been 100% in the right to ticket me for the pops.

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[D Fresh]

I didn't say police were consistent did I? HA

In your situation, if it had been night time (for example) I would more than likely find the disabled driver at fault because of so many negligent choices. During a bright sunny day on a wide, flat, straight road, with multiple mile visibility? They would get a ticket, but probably not found at fault. Between their wrecked car and a ticket, we call that the "stupid tax". The stupid tax includes tickets for categories like disorderly conduct, public drunk, or trespassing.

You are half correct when it comes to fault determination, at least in Georgia. We do not determine fault on private property, only if on a public road way.

Personally I don't feel like we should be involved at all on private property accidents unless serious bodily injury has occurred.

I think we've all been subject to that tax once in a while. But some people could prop up an entire economy with their stupidity.

With stuff like this that is "technically illegal" but not likely to draw the ire of the county mounties or others short of an accident it's just a matter of choice.

How much is it worth to you? The likelihood of a problem arising due to no side front reflector is minuscule. If I cared so much about appearances that the factory ones bothered me I wouldn't think twice about using these LEDs.

As it stands, just not a priority for me. Now if a spouse or kid of mine is ever reading this just know, I'd certainly put them in if gifted to me though.

 

[D Fresh]

As far as I can see, most of what is on the headlight is just diffusers. There may be a small little clear/white reflector on the inner lower corner, right next to the grill and not visible from the side. Again, I'm just sharing information about the requirements as they are written, and trying provided a clean solution if you really don't like the amber side marker on the fender. And I'll be honest, I've not measured the height of the headlight, perhaps the reflector up there is higher than the standards allows and that is why Ford didn't integrate it in the headlight light they did with the Focus RS I have. But I still feel that having the reflector, even if not located 100% within the MVSS rules is safer than removing it altogether.


As far as passing safety inspections, again some people don't care about doing their job thoroughly. In my state we recently had a guy sentenced for inspection fraud, he was inspecting the vehicles as though they were from a non-emissions check county. Everyone says no one cares about catless downpipes and rolling coal, well this inspector didn't, it's put him in prison for a year and a $1,200,000 fine. They knew he was doing it and let him keep doing it to get a bigger punishment after 15,000 vehicles. I go to the shop I go to for my inspections because the guy there is thorough, even rolls out the headlight output tester for the inspections. As for what police look at, again some are lazier than others or figure they would worry about somethings when they are just looking to tack on a stack for someone being an ass during a routine stop. I've been ticketed in my driveway for my Focus RS popping from the exhaust on my way home, the officer would not listen to me when I stated Ford programmed the car to do that. He just said, "I see these around town all the time and none of them do that.", I tried to inform him that only the RS trim has that feature and in the last year I've not seen another one in down, at that time I was delivering pizza so I was on the roads a lot. NC does have a law that you may not alter the vehicle to increase the sound of or cause unusual noise from the exhaust, so had that not been a stock feature of my car he would have been 100% in the right to ticket me for the pops.

Sounds like you should move.

 

[ControlNode]

Sounds like you should move.

Why? I like it here. The officer that ticketed me did follow up with Ford asking about my car and they informed him I was correct. I brought the document from Ford with the list of features for the RS where I highlighted the parts relevant to the "pops and burbles" and they dismissed the case. I support following laws and such. I'm not even mad at the officer as he was trying to do his job, I just wish he would have listened or even allowed me to show him the documents from Ford about this as that would have saved several people time later on.

 

[D Fresh]

Why? I like it here. The officer that ticketed me did follow up with Ford asking about my car and they informed him I was correct. I brought the document from Ford with the list of features for the RS where I highlighted the parts relevant to the "pops and burbles" and they dismissed the case. I support following laws and such. I'm not even mad at the officer as he was trying to do his job, I just wish he would have listened or even allowed me to show him the documents from Ford about this as that would have saved several people time later on.

I support following laws too.

I just couldn't live anywhere where the law required me to participate in those kind of extortion schemes.

Annual inspections? Exhaust Gestapo? Nope. Not for me. But hey, it takes all kinds.

That being said, those kind of things are probably just around the corner here too. Hopefully I'm long gone by then.

 

[ControlNode]

I've been to SC and seen the state of cars in a place without an annual safety inspection. Most people just don't know better. I do think cars are safer in NC partly due to the inspections.

 

[VAMike]

I've been to SC and seen the state of cars in a place without an annual safety inspection. Most people just don't know better. I do think cars are safer in NC partly due to the inspections.

yeah, I'd prefer to skip the inspection, but I really don't want to be on the road with other people who don't get inspections

 

[D Fresh]

I've been to SC and seen the state of cars in a place without an annual safety inspection. Most people just don't know better. I do think cars are safer in NC partly due to the inspections.

Even officials in your own state admit it's a scam...

https://www.theamericanconsumer.org/2019/06/do-mandatory-vehicle-inspections-really-make-us-safer/

When North Carolina officials examined the efficacy of mandatory inspection programs in 2008, they concluded that “nearly three decades of research has failed to conclusively show that mechanical defects are a significant cause of motor vehicle accidents or that safety inspections significantly reduce accident rates.”

 

[ControlNode]

Even officials in your own stare admit it's a scam...

https://www.theamericanconsumer.org/2019/06/do-mandatory-vehicle-inspections-really-make-us-safer/

In the source report for that they also stated that highway patrol and reporting officers are not mechanics so the data can't really be trusted since they are likely not reporting mechanical failures for accidents, just that there was an accident. In most cases reporting officers are discouraged from "saying/reporting" on the cause, they will "determine fault" but often not say what caused the fault. That is for others to determine later using the collected witness accounts and inspection of the involved vehicles by those qualified to do so later.

 

[daczone]

So I just got these in the mail today.
Bought them off eBay, I haven't installed them yet, but already I'm dissapointed in the quality issues.
I've contacted the seller to let them know to check thier QC department.......

Mine came with 1 tab broken on one side. I used some butyl tape I had to attach it. I'm happy to say it is still in place.

 

[D Fresh]

In the source report for that they also stated that highway patrol and reporting officers are not mechanics so the data can't really be trusted since they are likely not reporting mechanical failures for accidents, just that there was an accident. In most cases reporting officers are discouraged from "saying/reporting" on the cause, they will "determine fault" but often not say what caused the fault. That is for others to determine later using the collected witness accounts and inspection of the involved vehicles by those qualified to do so later.

This makes no logical sense.

It is impossible to determine who is at fault for any accident without first knowing the cause.

https://apnews.com/article/4bd9e4e19c8d43018f4f29099842ead4

There are existing laws that allow police officers to issue citations for unsafe vehicles. There are statutes covering lighting, mirrors, mufflers, brakes, horns and tires. Comparison of insurance rates between those states that require annual inspections and those that do not show no significant difference in premiums. When fatality rates are compared, there is no correlation between inspections and fatalities. In short, the annual vehicle safety inspection has not been proven to benefit drivers in any way. The people who lobby hardest for continuing this unnecessary program are body shops and mechanics who stand to make a profit from the inspection program.

https://www.cga.ct.gov/2015/rpt/2015-R-0227.htm

GAO said research has also shown that motor vehicle component failure is a factor in a relatively small percentage of crashes. It cites a 2008 NHTSA report which estimates that vehicle component failure was the “critical reason” (see below) in about 2% of crashes, and that evidence of a vehicle system breakdown was present (although not necessarily the cause of the accident) in 6.8% of crashes. NHTSA found that driver behavior was the “critical reason” in 94% of crashes.

https://www.carchex.com/research-center/vehicle-inspections/do-state-vehicle-inspections-make-sense/

However, other evidence suggests that state inspections may actually increase accidents. When a car passes inspection, drivers might take more risks due to a false sense of security. In Nebraska, the accident rate decreased when the vehicle inspection program was abandoned.

You and I will probably never see eye to eye on this one.

What I see as a wasteful example of government bloat you see as your government providing a safer operating environment for yourself and others.

 

[JesseS]

In the source report for that they also stated that highway patrol and reporting officers are not mechanics so the data can't really be trusted since they are likely not reporting mechanical failures for accidents, just that there was an accident. In most cases reporting officers are discouraged from "saying/reporting" on the cause, they will "determine fault" but often not say what caused the fault. That is for others to determine later using the collected witness accounts and inspection of the involved vehicles by those qualified to do so later.

You are correct, we were not allowed to state the cause unless it was a clear case of operator error, mechanical causes were to be determined by equipment inspection by qualified personnel. Sometimes it took a few days to determine fault.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

I've been to SC and seen the state of cars in a place without an annual safety inspection. Most people just don't know better. I do think cars are safer in NC partly due to the inspections.

One of the worst things about florida roads is there are no vehicle inspections.

The only thing they check before giving you a plate is that the vin matches the title or some sh1t.

This is how we get all these ridiculous vehicles down here - everything from vehicles modified in unsafe ways (excessive spacer lifts) to vehicles that are literally falling apart on the roadways.

I cannot wait to get out of this freedumb filled state....

 

[OFC Ranger]

yeah, I'd prefer to skip the inspection, but I really don't want to be on the road with other people who don't get inspections

You think mechanical problems is something to worry about? I'm pretty sure I could fake having no legs, no arms, and one eyeball and somehow get a drivers license.

 

[D Fresh]

Yay authoritarian leaders!

Was not an endorsement or anything political. Just saying leaving the state might not help you.

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