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The NHTSA ran a study a few years ago and confirmed that cars that had amber turn signals got rear-ended less frequently than cars with red on red tail lenses. There are two automotive standards in the world - EUNECE and FMVSS - the US, Canada and Mexico use FMVSS and practically every other country in the world uses EUENCE. The differences are too many to list but the safety standards and crash test standards now are higher on EUNECE vehicles than on FMVSS ones. It was not always that way. The US launched the safety standards revolution back in the 60s but then our standards stopped evolving at the beginning of the 80s whereas European standards continue to improve.
I personally prefer the European rear mirror on the Corvette with the built in turn signal. The mirror is bigger and more aesthetically functional and I like the fact that other drivers can see me when I am changing lane especially at a traffic circle. The European rule says that other cars need to be able to a turn signal at a 180· angle. This rule does not exist in the US. Another rule is that cars with halogen and led lighting are fitted with standard headlamp washers and the ones on the Euro Corvette look really cool.
And finally have you noticed how often you see glare from the on-coming cars in the US - even brand new cars? And old people especially complain about being blinded by these "new lighting systems" . No one complains in Europe or around the world and that is because all the cars sold under the EUNECE standard have a switch on the dashboard to level out your headlights - and voila, the problem has disappeared.
Now, all these items cost more money but since they are not forbidden by FMVSS standards Chevrolet could offer them as a Euro-pack option and make some extra dosch. They have to offer them anyway when they sell their Vettes in Europe and Asia so why not offer the same goodies to us in the good'ol USA?
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