At Grote Industries, safety on the road is the company’s No. 1 priority. As a leading manufacturer of heavy-duty lighting and vehicle safety systems, Grote says it is in the business of anticipating customer needs and delivering cutting-edge solutions. The company is developing solutions for distracted drivers by seeking a waiver from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to improve safety. With the frequency of rear-end collisions rising nationally as a result of distracted driving, Grote took the extraordinary step of applying for, and receiving, the waiver to allow motor carriers operating trailers and van body trucks to install brake-activated pulsating warning lamps to supplement the steady-burning lamps required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).
With more than 300 rear-end collisions involving trailers occurring on our highways each day, Grote Industries proposed that a light with brake warning functionality will improve visibility and safety for all drivers. According to a recent study, a flashing amber brake-activated light can help reduce the frequency of rear-end collisions by more than 33%.[1] The waiver, FMCSA–2020–0122, was granted based in part on this compelling data.
And Grote didn’t stop with just petitioning for the waiver. They developed a unique solution as well. To bring greater visibility to trailers during the critical moments when the vehicle is braking, engineers at Grote developed the Auxiliary Strobe and Stop Lamp, an add-on warning light that can be easily wired into a trailer’s existing brake light circuit.
In developing this new lamp, rather than just repackaging an existing product, Grote said it studied the problem and listened to the needs of its customers. The Grote Auxiliary Strobe and Stop Lamp was designed to effectively draw the attention of traffic and give following motorists greater warning of braking. To ensure that nearby drivers are aware of the vehicle’s actions, braking initiates a sequence of five amber flashes in four seconds followed by a solid-red burn. This light sequence far exceeds the attention-getting capability of standard solid-burn brake lights while not overwhelming following drivers with long periods of strobing.
“The unique advantages of Grote’s Auxiliary Strobe and Stop Lamp have gotten the attention of fleets throughout the nation,” said Grote’s Director of National Fleet Sales Mark Blackford, who found uniformly strong interest in the new lamp. “Additional functionality for auxiliary lights will cut down on accidents and property damage, and will make our roadways safer,” said Blackford. “With a product like this, at the end of the day, everyone wins.”
Blackford anticipates a host of benefits will result from the waiver and the adoption of the new light, both for fleets and for the driving public. The company says drawing attention to the actions of trailers will increase operator safety and minimize rear-end collisions, meaning less equipment and freight damage, less downtime, and fewer delayed shipments. For fleet managers, that means a better safety record, fewer CSA headaches, more money saved, and most importantly, a safer road for everyone. Thanks to Grote’s commitment to safety and willingness to innovate, the new Grote Auxiliary Strobe and Stop Lamp, combined with the waiver granted to them from the FMCSA, will deliver the crucial visibility that can help prevent accidents and, ultimately, save lives.
[1] DOT; Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; (84 FR 17910)
