The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) decided to deny Polytech Plastic Molding, Inc.'s request for an exemption that would allow their vehicles to use a special lighting module. This module, made by Intellistop, Inc., can make brake lights flash to improve visibility. FMCSA denied the request because Polytech didn't prove the modification would be as safe as the current standards, and because of a lack of legal operations data due to an inactive USDOT number. Although some comments supported the potential safety benefits, the agency was concerned about safety risks and proper regulatory compliance.
Simple Explanation
Polytech Plastic Molding, Inc. wanted special flashing brake lights for their trucks to help people see them better, but the safety people said no because they couldn't prove it was safer than normal lights and didn't follow all rules.