[LIforrelaxin]

Ok, now please no one take this personal, but why do questions like this always seem to come up. A car has to have tail lights, brake lights and turn signals. Now when you add a trailer you are extending the rear end of the vehicle. As these lights denote the end of your vehicle doesn't it make sense that they need to extend to the end of the entire combination of tow vehicle and trailer.

Now personally I don't look only immediately in front of me when I am driving I generally look as far in front of me as I can... and often notice the lights on the cars two or three a head of me before the one right in front of me.... It just how I drive. However the idea here folks is that someone is supposed to be able to look directly at what is in front of them.... Hence the back of every vehicle, is supposed to be equipped with brake, tail and turn signals.....

The only exception to this is if none are present and the driver is using hand signals out the drivers side window. However personally I am not sure I would trust people enough anymore for that to work. Besides which that is only legitimate to do during the daylight hours. (hence this is how the Municipal, log splitters etc. mentioned above are able to get around the rules.... but technically the drivers should be using hand signals)