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Rear-end crashes involving heavy trucks occur with sufficient frequency that they are a cause of concern within regulatory agencies. In 2006, there were approximately 23,500 rear-end crashes involving heavy trucks which resulted in 135 fatalities. As part of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) goal of reducing the overall number of truck crashes, the Enhanced Rear Signaling (ERS) for Heavy Trucks project was developed to investigate methods to reduce or mitigate those crashes where a heavy truck has been struck from behind by another vehicle. Researchers also utilized what had been learned in the rear-end crash avoidance work with light vehicles that was conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) serving as the prime research organization. ERS crash countermeasures investigated included passive conspicuity markings, visual signals, and auditory signals.

There are a number of characteristics that are unique to light emitting diodes (LEDs) that make it difficult to ascertain whether a motor vehicle lamp using them as light sources is in compliance with certain Federal and State regulations. The vast majority of these regulations were written for incandescent light sources and should be examined for possible changes to accommodate LEDs. The advantages of using LEDs instead of incandescent sources include longer life, faster illumination time, and lower energy use. Because of these factors, they are becoming more prevalent in vehicle lighting. The following factors should be addressed so as not to impede their increasing use.