New Motorcycle Safety Device Tries to Reduce Rear-end Collisions
Vololights, a new LED equipped license plate holder developed by California company Vectolabs aims to reduce rear end collisions. The product will light up whenever the motorcycle decelerates, regardless of weather or not the brakes are being used. The idea is that since motorcycles slow down faster than cars and trucks on average that these lights can do a better job of alerting following drivers to prevent accidents.
Many motorcycle organizations and state bureaus of motor vehicles already encourage riders to flash their brakes when slowing. Vectolabs wants to make this process easier and automatic. It is also beneficial for owners of some classic bikes, like 1960s Vespa scooters where only the brake pedal is connected to the brake lights, not the front grip hand brakes.
Electonic cars like Tesla already offer a similar system, that illuminates the brake light as soon as you lift your foot off of the accelerator regardless of whether you employ the brake. Vololights should be in keeping with various state laws for brake lights but a stealth mode can be used to revert back to normal brake light illumination.
Vololights plans to roll our their technology beyond just motorcycles. They intend to start working with major fleets to use the technology across their vehicles. From vans, cars, trailers and trucks, they aim to bring more attention to all kinds of vehicles on the road. The idea is that usage of this device would equate to reduced rear end collisions and subsequently reduce insurance rates.
Vectolabs is currently in the midst of a Kickstarter campaign to raise $50,000 by June 12th in order to put the Vololights into production. A number of pledge levels are available, but it’ll cost you at least $69 if you pledge for a starter kit.
