Arrow gets the point across.(Final assembly)(Grote Industries Inc. developed turn signals)(Brief article)

Automotive News, October, 2007

It's the latest thing in tractor-trailer safety: a bright arrow.

Grote Industries has developed a turn signal for 18-wheelers that uses LEDs to light up an arrow-shaped alert. Grote says the brighter-than-usual arrow signal is more effective than the traditional blinking light.

"You identify the arrow pattern faster than a light,'' said Grote spokeswoman Susan Diller. "You want that added time for a trailing vehicle to make a decision.''

The company says the arrow can offer as much as 3 feet of extra stopping distance for every 10 mph that a vehicle behind it is traveling.

Light-emitting diodes are better for the turn signal because they, like big rigs, are built for the long haul, Grote says. The LEDs used in the signal are rated...

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