I do not understand why anyone would be willing to compromise safety for a perceived improvement in aesthetics and reduce the amount of light emitted by the break and tail lights. In inclement weather like heavy rain or snow whiteouts, both of which I experienced multiple times in recent years, it becomes very difficult, if not impossible, to not out-drive the distance you can see out your windshield. Even in good weather, the brighter the rear lights, the more likely it is to get the attention from the driver behind you that may be distracted for one reason or another. Anyone that tells you they never get distracted behind the wheel is lying. My nephew is a very successful attorney and would take on big $ litigation in a heart beat for a client that got rear ended yet this A$%Hole recently replaced the taillights on his new BMW with dark, almost black, smoked lenses. As smart as he is that was a really stupid thing to do and he doesnt have a clue how much respect I lost for him. Also, as much more than a minor point, it is illegal to not maintain the factory installed lighting in the same configuration and condition as it was installed in the factory. Also, for those that say you are only fair weather drivers your full of it. Sudden summer thunderstorms, or sudden unexpected snow white outs, as example, can happen anytime depending on the time of year. I have been in a fatal accident in the recent past where the rear lighting on a large truck was much less than adequate. I think the probability of avoiding that accident, or at lest avoiding a fatality, would have been improved to some extent, if the rear lighting was better and up to the standards of most modern vehicles. Compromising safety, in to a small extent for aesthetics, is just not something that commands respect.
