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 third brake light?
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.
Does a car have to have 3 brake lights?
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.
What does third light mean?
Three on a match
(also known as third on a match or unlucky third light) is a purported superstition among soldiers during the Crimean War to World War II. … This superstition has become part of popular Western culture in films, novels and other art forms.
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.
Why is my third brake light not working?
Blown Fuse
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.
Why do cars have a third 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.
Who invented 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.
When should third brake light come on?
The third brake light goes on
when the brake pedal is depressed
. Often mounted in the trunk lid or rear window of an automobile, a third brake light is designed to easily be seen over the hood line of a following vehicle.
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.
How much is a third brake light?
The cost of a new brake light will depend on the make, model and year of your vehicle. Most of the 3rd brake lights on PartsGeek.com cost somewhere in the range of
$50 and $130
.
Does third brake light have to be red?
Brake lights are supposed to be red
. Even the decal is technically Illegal, but probably not enforced as much. A license plate frame is technically illegal.
What would cause brake lights not to work?
If one or more of your brake lights isn’t working properly, it could mean one of three things:
The brake light system fuse is blown, the brake light bulbs are burned out or the brake light wiring switch is broken
. All of these issues are easy to troubleshoot.
