The high mount stop light, or third brake light, is key to letting drivers behind you know when you ‘re coming to a stop.
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 the purpose of the high mounted brake light?
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.
What is the upper brake light called?
The third brake light warns drivers that your vehicle is slowing down or stopping. Many people also refer to it as the center brake lamp, cyclops brake light , eye-level brake lamp, high-level lamp, and safety brake lamp.
Do you have to have a third brake light?
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.
Do all cars have a 3rd brake light?
In North America, since 1986, all vehicles feature a third brake light . ... Positioned higher than the corner stop lamps, the third brake light is more visible to other drivers. The center brake light is usually located on the centerline of the vehicle, but may be offset if the vehicle features split rear doors.
Is the tail light the same as the brake light?
The Difference Between Brake Lights and Tail Lights
Tail lights are engaged when the you turn on your headlights or when your parking brake is on, whereas the brake lights will light up immediately when you apply pressure to the brakes.
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.
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.
When did 3rd brake light come out?
In 1986 , the Center High Mount Stop Lamp (CHMSL) – or what we all think of as the “third brake light” – was mandated for use in the United States.
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.
Where is the third brake light located?
Locate your car’s third brake light housing, which may be accessed from the rear package shelf below the rear window or from the upper-rear lining near the top of the rear window.
Do all brake lights need to work?
What about a vehicle that is equipped with a brake light(s) that flash or pulsate? Answer: The state statute says that a vehicle equipped with stop lamps or signal lamps shall at all times be maintained in good working condition. So all brake lights, including the third one, would have to be operational when activated .
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.
Will 3rd brake light fail MOT?
Is the third brake light an MOT failure? Answered by Andrew Brady. ... If you disconnect it, it will pass its MoT . The rules state that the benefit of doubt must be given to the presenter (you) so, if it doesn’t work at all, the tester has to prove that it’s connected.
