Within the last two months, while driving at night on a somewhat crowded interstate, I found myself driving behind a newer model of Cadillac with a new type of tail light/brake light (possibly leds). My following distance was about 30 feet at times. This new type of light proved to be very distracting -- not because of its novelty but because of a "streaking" optical effect created by the lights. I have excellent night vision and use glasses when I drive. I never have light-associated vision problems when driving. But the effect created by these Cadillac tail lights/brake lights proved so distracting that I was unable to drive in a normal manner. When I would look at the tail lights and then look away (to watch other cars, check mirrors, etc.), several very bright red streaks or blurs of light would "emerge" from the Cadillac tail lights and follow within my field of view. This same distracting streak/blur effect would occur with even the smallest movement of my eyes -- as I looked from Cadillac tail light to Cadillac trunk, for example. The effect proved so distracting that I could not look at the Cadillac ahead for a while and had to let the car move very far ahead of me before I could return to normal driving, eventually managing to change lanes and keep my distance from the Cadillac. I bring this matter to your attention because I consider these tail lights to be a potential and serious driving hazard. The streaking effect caused by these new types of lights can confuse and distract drivers. The streak effect, for example, might prompt a driver to imagine seeing a light where there is, in fact, no light -- perhaps causing the driver to brake suddenly and unnecessarily. Or, perhaps more likely, the annoying streak effect could force some drivers to adopt less-then-safe driving measures to avoid looking at the lights. In either case, these lights are distracting and potentially hazardous. I urge you to investigate this matter as a safety issue. Thank you.

- Arlington, VA, USA