Why do American domestic vehicles have red/ combination brake and turn signals instead of amber indicators?

Question

As a frequent driver in LA/ America in general I’ve always wondered why the NHTSB and DOT let manufacturers have brake lights also be the turn signals on domestic cars when every other country’s cars have amber lights? Can somebody explain this to me like I’m five?

In: Engineering

Answer 1

That’s a minimum of what the regs require.  If you’re 10 or older Technology Connections on youtube has a good video on it.

Answer 2

That’s the minimum, but not the only option. 

All three of our vehicles have amber turn signals in the rear.

Answer 3

I asked myself this too, as I always figured the seperate amber lights are more visible/clear than the combined red/indicator lights. But dunno.

What I wonder now is why the current blinding led lights are allowed, as I find they out-shine the amber turn signals easy. Also they tend to totally blind oncoming traffic. Quite unsafe, iyam.