Frequently while driving in the dark, we are followed by someone who comes up behind us and forgets or neglects to shut off their high-beams (bright). Why not have a rear-facing indicator you can activate that will inform them their bright lights are still on and requesting they dim their headlights?
I though it could be a bright BLUE light mounted in a corner of the rear window. Red lights are brake lights, white lights are back-up lights, yellow are turn indicators. So BLUE would be provided as a way to attract the attention of the person following you.
This could be an after-market item as well as something built-in to new vehicles. There is no other way to let the person behind you know that they have their brights on. If they are doing it inadvertently then they'll be glad you told them. It's silly that we have a way to alert the person coming TOWARD us that their bright lights are on, since they'll soon pass us by - but that we can't tell the person behind us, even though on a narrow rural road they might be behind us for mile after mile!
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I am tempted to say that if someone can't see the idiot light in their own car, then they won't have a clue what your indicator is trying to tell them.
The most effective thing I've used (illegaly, I assume) is to flash on a 500,000 candlepower backup light on my 4wd. That certaintly got their attention!
Your solution is the kinder / gentler approach, as opposed to my gestering and waving at the idiot behind me.
Then, there are times I have been that idiot...
I can see a scenario when the police are trying to pass you, and they have their high beams flashing on and off. Your car is in front, and your blue flash indicator is going on and off, syncopated rhythm to the police flashers.
:-)
> flash on a 500,000 candlepower backup light on my 4wd.
A simple mirror would be just as good
A related problem (which I will post) is the oncoming-car high-beam (esp. HID). Hand-held spotlights are inexpensive, but using them is an act of hostility, likely to cause road rage in the recipient. A quick, well-aimed sweep across the windshield of an on-coming or following vehicle is not likely to generate too much hostility and may be effective, but takes your attention away from the lane ahead of you that you are driving in.
In europe, it's pretty commonly agreed that 1-3 blinks with your warning lights mean the same thing as "flashing backwards". This would solve all your problems without expensive additional hardware.
Technology can probably take this one step further. Use a blue (or IR) LED of specified wavelengh, possibly blinking a code sequence. A dectector on the rear car can find the signal and dim the lights automatically.
Blue lights are illegal on anything that is not an emergency service vehicle (UK only?). I find a quick flash of the rear fog light often does the trick. (Although one shouldn't)
American vehicles dont have a rear facing fog light.
Pilgrim... I love that idea. :P
But seriously tho, is it that hard just to flick that little switch under the mirror to dim it?? Since there is no standard signal yet.