MTFCA Forum

I decided to do something a bit out of the ordinary for me but I figured what the heck could it hurt.
I joined a little website called "Next Door" a while back.
And you can post stuff there you want people to know,like lost dogs and such.
I posted this for all to read. If it just gets 1 person to pay closer attention, it was worth the typing. I think we could do more to raise awareness of our presence on the hwy's doing something similar/It may have been out of line but Steves situation got me thinking.


A copy and paste.

"I just read the terrible news that a fellow I know in Kansas was struck at a intersection in Indiana while driving his 1915 Model T Ford to a old car event, and is now in really bad shape in a hospital.Happened yesterday.
It got me to thinking that perhaps folks that don't know much about old cars of this vintage might benefit from a few bits of info. It may save the life of someone like myself that also drives vintage Model T Fords and other old cars.
These cars do not have flashing turn signals as modern cars do unless they are added. And sometimes they are subtle,and not very large as to not take away from the appearance of the car.
They also do not have Brake lights, unless again,they are added by the owner.
Tail lights are also different as most cars only had 1 on the drivers side.
Motor cycle operators know the dangers of the road as well, these tips may help save their lives to.

Old cars of this type are driven by folks that know Hand Signals. And NO I am not talking about the "California howdy".
Please take a moment to look at this.
https://www.drivesafeonline.org/driving ... en-to-use/
Hand Turn Signals: Should You Ever Use Them? - DriveSafe Online®
drivesafeonline.org
"

Texas driver's handbooks had hand signals as late as the mid-1960s. They were available at DMV, which used to be staffed, and were used in Driver's Ed programs.
Is there such as thing as Driver's Ed anymore? So much that is practical and useful has been purged from public education.

Hand signals still on the current AZ drivers test.

TXGOAT2 wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 10, 2023 12:25 pm

Texas driver's handbooks had hand signals as late as the mid-1960s. They were available at DMV, which used to be staffed, and were used in Driver's Ed programs.
Is there such as thing as Driver's Ed anymore? So much that is practical and useful has been purged from public education.

Massachusetts was the same as Texas until the mid-60's, the RMV required only the use of hand signals for the driver's test.

In the OP, most states require a brake light whether the car came with them or not. Again, Massachusetts requires an operating brake light on all registered vehicles with no exceptions. As a practical matter, I would not knowingly drive a vehicle without an operating brake light on the road.
I googled "Do all 50 states require an operating brake light?" I didn't expect the answer that I got, and the information was not helpful. On this forum in 2013 the topic was discussed and many of the responders said that their state only required whatever equipment that the automobile or truck came with as standard equipment. My first sentence my be overstating things a bit. I also was not going to read motor vehicle law for the 50 states.

We have to realize that in todays road use having a fast reaction time is an utmost necessity. .

WHY? Because the majority of todays vehicles have faster response times. easily seen turn signals, and simply are faster.

Being around vehicles like that and being driven by drivers who are listening to a radio, an earbud in their ear and driving to close is a definite accident about to happen. I doubt 20% of drivers on the road today even know about hand signals because the great majority don’t use them. But they definitely know how to use a phone while driving!!

The sad but honest truth is our cars look so little like modern cars that drivers don't even recognize them. Seriously, look at something like Steve's Roadster compared to a F150 Pickup or Family Van... people aren't looking for something this small, black, and transparent on top.

Sad, but it's like riding a motorcycle - you have to assume that you are invisible to them, drive with your head on a swivel, and expect them to do something at best unexpected and at worst semi-homicidal... because of all the things out there, the one thing people DON'T expect to see (unless they're one of us) is a car like ours.

The main road to my house is 2 lane. One for each direction of travel. My driveway is a narrow gravel road. When I get ready to turn, I use the left turn hand signal. I have found that some people think I am waving for them to pass. So if no one is coming in the opposite direction, I go over into the oncoming traffic lane as I slow down to turn.
Norm

Susanne wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 10, 2023 3:43 pm

The sad but honest truth is our cars look so little like modern cars that drivers don't even recognize them. Seriously, look at something like Steve's Roadster compared to a F150 Pickup or Family Van... people aren't looking for something this small, black, and transparent on top.

Sad, but it's like riding a motorcycle - you have to assume that you are invisible to them, drive with your head on a swivel, and expect them to do something at best unexpected and at worst semi-homicidal... because of all the things out there, the one thing people DON'T expect to see (unless they're one of us) is a car like ours.

Very true and to make it worse, the cars are black, which isnt the easiest color to see especially during evning.

Most t's do not have very good lights either. And almost all the modern plastic cars have lights on all the time.

The cars are slower than the modern cars as we all know and that does not help any when everyone is mad and or distracted when on the road and has to get there NOW!!

The march of the world has led me to put visible flasher lights on my Ts.

Not original?

Better to be seen than not, but even that is no guarantee (Steve had flashers on his car).

BobD wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 10, 2023 12:34 pm

Hand signals still on the current AZ drivers test.
Screen Shot 2023-08-30 at 9.41.31 AM.png

Three Cheers for Arizonia ! Hooray, Hooray, Hooray ! All states should do so.

Where I live in central Texas driving on main highways and thoroughfares 50 mph or slower will get a line of cars behind you pretty quick since running 70-85 is normal these days. In just the last 10 years and even adding more lanes on I-35 folks just keep getting faster. And the semi’s are usually running 70+.
I’m fortunate we have farm to market black top roads in my area so I drive my T. But anywhere near the entrance and off ramps of 35 is NO WAY. It’s just too dangerous for me.

One thing that gets me is when on a 2 lane road and we come to a hill. There is an extra lane for slow moving vehicles which goes partway up the hill. I pull over so the cars behind me can pass. And then someone in the main lane slows to take a picture of me just when the slow lane ends. Now I have to stop. From there on I have to use low gear to the top of the hill which slows me even more!
Norm

Susanne wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 10, 2023 3:43 pm

... people aren't looking for something this small, black, and transparent on top.

Susanne, you are so correct....and that's exactly why I had my T painted red. I try to stay true to correct parts and accessories but prefer being more visible.

I also attach an LED strobe light to the back of the car.

Mack, I think you are onto something here, education is the key. People love seeing the old cars but are not looking for them, we need to talk safety as well as about our cars whenever we talk to people. As a bumper sticker I once saw said "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance"

Yea, If i can prevent 1 person from having a safety issue,it was worth it.
I know alot of bikers have bumper stickers on their cars and trucks, "watch for bikes" and some even with vulgar language added, not necessary, but anyhow the point being, a "watch out for slow vehicles" or something similar might help? I am not that creative.
Make a decal similar to this?
https://www.redbubble.com/i/sticker/Wat ... 8781.EJUG5

"watch for slow cars" and have a T in the photo?

A Whiteman wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 10, 2023 5:51 pm

The march of the world has led me to put visible flasher lights on my Ts.

Not original?

Better to be seen than not, but even that is no guarantee (Steve had flashers on his car).

I have two bright magnetic flashing lights that I put on the rear of my T before I drive it on the street. So far, so good.

No one knows what hand signals mean anymore. When I got my license in 1981 we still had to demonstrate them. Using them today is actually dangerous. I have been hit twice in my dump truck hand signaling for a left turn. Today people think that is an invitation to pass a slow vehicle on the left. You turn left just as they try to pass. I have been hit by a Honda driven by a guy old enough to know better and a youngster on a bike. The T came out better in both cases. The Honda bent my rear wheel but I have straightening press. Now all my old cars have turn signals and brake lights.

Both flashers, stoplight and two rear lightswith reflectives are mandatory on cars in Denmark.
On my 1914 I bite the bullet and put modern, efficient yet discrete LED lights both front and rear. No matter what I put on it would not be original, so I might as well put something on that works:
Front: Both flashers and position light.
Rear: The one old brakelight was mounted when I got te car and I have chossen to keep that as well as the original kerosene lamp. The litle red lamp at top has a clear rear that light up the licenseplate.

As a general advice, drive defensive when driving in your old car (or always actually). Do NOT expect the counterparts to obey their duties to yield but observe if they do. I wish Steve had done that and it might not have happend.

Michigan still has hand signals shown in their "What Every Driver Must Know" pamphlet

Oldav8tor wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 23, 2023 5:02 pm

Michigan still has hand signals shown in their "What Every Driver Must Know" pamphlet.

So does Ontario, Canada!