Miata Mailing List: May 1995, Message #51
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   From: Greg Vantreese 
Subject: Re: Red panel lights
   Date: Tue, 2 May 1995 09:25:29 -0400

"Joshua Benjamin Moore"  wrote:
> One other interesting aspect of red/amber illumination is that it is very hard
> to see.

"Alex Little ((919) 254-5038)"  wrote:
> Red lights were once used in aircraft so that pilots could also see outside at
> night.          ^^^^

One major reason that military aircraft no longer have red/amber instruments is
that the pilots had to dial the brightness all the way up just to read their
instruments under several different lighting conditions.  They found it much
more desirable that the pilots be able to see their instruments at all times,
rather than gain some tiny benefit in night-vision sensitivity.  The blue-green
tinged white that we have in most cars was chosen as a good balance between
brightness, legibility, and clear vision.

I tend to think the same reasoning would apply to automobiles on the road, as
well.  Red instruments may be attractive to some, but functionally they are a
sub-optimal choice.

Finally, my personal opinion/taste in colors:  I think white gauges look clean,
clear, and neat, whereas a red/amber instrument panel is gaudy, flashy, and
just plain ugly.


Greg Vantreese               "f u cn rd ths u ll b a gd pgmr." -anonymous
Naval Air Warfare Center     Indianapolis, IN - Speed Limit 235+