This feature is legal.
Imagine yourself driving through the supermarket parking lot at noon on Sunday. The spots are very limited and only those who have cat-like reflexes can get them. They also offer the chance to win coveted prizes. As you are looking for someone to take your place, you see reverse lights. The car stops and waits, but it doesn’t move. Slowly, the time ticks by, and a line flustered drivers grows behind you, until they see the reverse lights. You continue on your way, looking for a spot.
This is one complaint submitted to Roadshow’s Cooley On Cars YouTube video. The reverse lights will turn on when you lock or unlock a late model GM vehicle. The user is left wondering if this feature is legal under U.S. laws and regulations. Brian Cooley says that the feature is legal.
There are a few rules that reverse lights must adhere to. Reverse lights can only be kept on a steady basis. They cannot flash. Reverse lights must be on at all times, including when the car’s in reverse. The reverse lights cannot be turned on while the car is moving forward. Finally, a single reverse light is required by law.
You can adjust the time that the lights remain on in the 2018 Chevrolet Impala system settings. You can also change the function completely. You can choose between a 30-, 60-, or 120-second duration depending on how annoying you wish to be. This feature aids in ingress/egress by providing extra lighting at night so that people don’t slip in the darkness. Before implementing the feature, GM’s legal department checked its legality.
Keep in mind that if you see the rear lights of a late-model GM car as you drive through a parking lot, it could be backing up. Or the owner may have simply locked the door while they were leaving. You’ll likely see it every time you shop.
