Also, called
safety brake lamp or high-level brake lamp
, the third brake light helps fellow drivers in knowing when you hit the brakes. It is useful when their view of the left and right brake lights is interrupted by other vehicles.
Why is a third brake light required?
The low-cost third brake light requirement was generally accepted by manufacturers as
a way to help prevent relatively low-speed accidents that typically don’t result in deaths or severe injuries
. … Rear-end injury accidents also increased, from 24.9 percent of all crashes to 28.7 percent, according to the NHTSA.
Is it illegal if your third brake light is out?
Federal law mandates that
all vehicles have the third brake light outfitted within the car
. Additionally, the third light must be comparable to the other brake lights on the vehicle so that it is not distracting to the drivers behind the vehicle.
How does a 3rd brake light work?
In North America, since 1986, all vehicles feature a third brake light. … Like stop lamps at the corners, the
CHMSL indicates when the driver is braking, but its position and function add an extra layer of safety
. Positioned higher than the corner stop lamps, the third brake light is more visible to other drivers.
What year did 3rd brake lights become mandatory?
As a result, in
1986
, NHTSA began requiring all new cars to have a third brake light. The agency extended that requirement to all new light trucks in 1994.
Can you get pulled over for 3rd brake light being out?
Yes
. If you were pulled over for a middle brake light and subsequently arrested for DUI, there is a good chance we can prove the stop is unlawful. This may allow for a challenge to probable cause and your underlying charge of DUI being dismissed.
Why is my third brake light not working?
If all three of your brake lights stopped working,
a blown brake light fuse may
be the problem. In that case, you don’t need to replace the third brake light. To determine if the fuse is the issue, you need to check it. … Find the fuse box.
Is it illegal to drive with brake light out?
If your vehicle has something wrong with it, for example a broken brake light, the police may give you a
‘vehicle defect rectification notice
‘. You’ll need to get your vehicle fixed and provide proof that it’s been fixed, for example a receipt for the work from a mechanic.
Where is the 3rd brake light?
The position of the third brake light varies according to different cars. Usually, you can find it installed
inside the back glass of the vehicle
. It can be located in the car’s deck lid. For a few trucks, the third brake light may be located on the spare wheel carrier.
Are flashing brake lights legal in California?
The men reasoned that the strobing effect would better warn drivers behind them of the braking. … The good officer dug into the Vehicle Code and learned that, yes,
in California the devices are legal
– so long as the brake lights flash no more than four times within four seconds.
Is the third brake light a running light?
If your girl’s 3rd brake light is a “constant running light and just gets brighter when you hit the brakes” she has some kind of a electrical issue goin on.
All 3rd brake lights only light when the brake pedal is applied
.
Is 3rd brake light required in Texas?
As of August 2017 Texas has added a new rule to the safety inspection.
All vehicles require three working stop lamps
(brake lights). … In addition to the two standard brake lights a high center mounted brake light is now required.
Who invented the 3rd brake light?
Psychologist John Voevodsky
first introduced the third brake light, which is a requirement on modern-day vehicles, to the automotive industry in 1974. Voevodsky studied the effects of driving on attention, testing a small, inexpensive gadget on 343 taxicabs in San Francisco.
Is a high mount brake light required?
U.S. Requirement on ’86 Cars : High-Mounted Brake Lights Now
Standard
. Effective Monday, each new auto built for sale in the United States must bear the latest mark of safety regulation: High-mounted brake lights have become standard equipment by federal mandate.
What is a high mount brake light?
This light sits between your the two side brake lights to
provide a more visible sign to drivers behind you when you
‘re driving. … They can break a number of ways, from collisions, vandals, and airborne road debris, and getting the high mount brake light fixed at the dealership can be pricey.
