The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a mandatory recall of millions of vehicles with a common dashboard warning light. The snowflake indicator light is universally used by most automakers to indicate icy driving conditions. As part of its “Inclusive Design” project, the Department of Transportation (DOT) commissioned a study of dashboard indicator lights. Several of the indicators, commonly referred to as idiot lights, were found to be offensive. But the study didn’t stop there. They went on to collect accident data and found that millennials in particular had higher than average crash rates. Interviews with crash victims revealed that the sudden appearance of the snowflake on their dash was triggering. Multiple drivers claimed to be so offended by the sudden appearance of the light, that they “literally went into convulsions,” just before crashing. Inclusive Design suggested the snowflake recall as a result of its finding.
The Dashboard Indicator Inclusive Design for Life Effort (DIIDLE) also found several other offensive lights. The gas pump (low fuel) indicator is a clear icon of climate change deniers and triggering to those who care about the planet. The engine oil indicator was found offensive on two fronts. It promotes the use of petroleum products, and it might not be benign to people of Persian descent named Alladin. Turn signal indicators were also found to be confusing, because there’s one on each side of the dash panel. And perhaps most offensive of all is the flashing AWD light as it could be construed to mean “Asian While Driving“
Pete Buttigieg, head of the DOT held a press conference to announce the snowflake recall. “This is an obvious failure on the part of automakers worldwide. They have a moral duty to provide safe, comfortable and inclusive environments for ALL drivers. We are therefore demanding the recall of every single vehicle with these offensive and toxic indicators. If you or someone you love has died or been injured in an accident involving the sudden appearance of dashboard indicators, please, PLEASE contact your nearest federal law enforcement agency. You may be entitled to compensation from these evil corporations.”