Most persons in the Trailer, RV and Big Rig Industries do not realize the “Parking Safety Philosophy” that’s behind the 1969 mandating of Rear and Side Pointing Reflectors for all vehicles and most do not realize why the 4 Side Reflectors (2 Red and 2 Amber) must be mounted near the extreme ends of the vehicle, pointing “straight out” to the sides - and a pair of Red Reflectors are mandated to be mounted so as to point straight back - and all six are mandated to be projecting exactly perpendicular or parallel to the lengthwise Axis* of the Vehicle.   

*Unless specifically designed and “Lab Tested” to FMVSS #108 Standards for non-parallel, or non-perpendicular mounting angles

To fully comply to 1967 Vehicle Safety Act objectives … All six Reflectors should be mounted as close as practical to best represent the extremities of the vehicle’s length and width and all should also be mounted as near as practical to the average traffic eye level in order to be most effective (“Conspicuous”) in parking situations.  Mounting mandated Side Reflectors high up … or, at a non-approved angle … are violations of FMVSS #108 regulations and probably common sense as well.  Of course, other, non-mandated, “augment reflectors” can be mounted (pretty much) anywhere and at varying angles … but understand!! … these Reflectors would not be considered “complaint” to FMVSS #108 mandates.

I have a Newspaper Article* with a photo of a parked “Big Rig” Trailer involved in a “Parking Lot Accident” that shows the tongue of a large trailer that had No, Side Pointing (Amber) Reflectors.  This accident tore off a Fireman’s arm because the driver of the Fire Engine simply didn’t see this massive steel Trailer Tongue “sticking out” from the Trailer while rushing to a night time industrial fire … thus, causing an unfortunate calamity and a terrible injury that really didn’t have to occur.  Imagine how this kind of oversight can represent a real life safety problem in any Vehicle Parking Lot and also imagine the tremendous liability that can be involved in a loss such as this.           *We’ll mail a copy on request!

Note also that FMVSS #108 Compliant, Side and Rear Pointing Reflectors are already “built into” all of our “SP”, “SP-LL”, “SP-CL” and “WA” Seven-Function Tail Light Assemblies, and when properly orientated and located, will, conspicuously and compliantly identify the rear extremity and the width in any parking or “sitting on the shoulder” situation.

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