Flashing third Break Light

tools113 · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 7:37 pm

I installed a flahing unit onto the third bReak light. When you apply the breaks it flashes 3 times then stays on. I installed one of these on my Mini Cooper and it really got peoples attention.
Every little bit helps. Too many rear collison close calls for me. Poeple just don't pay attention.

Robbrez · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 7:40 pm

where did you buy from?

tools113 · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 7:59 pm

www.signalz4u.com - excellent product easy to install - ships fast

Guest · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 8:12 pm

Something tells ThunderbirdJunkie that if he rearended somebody with one of these devices he would not be found at fault, and his KJ would be getting a nice, shiny new ARB at the expense of the other driver's insurance company...

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 8:25 pm

how come? there's plenty of vehicles now that come with flashing 3rd brake lights?

Guest · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 8:30 pm

Don't tell me that's an OEM thing. There's no way. Not even the NHTSA is that stupid.

ThunderbirdJunkie has seen those stupid things here and there...and they're a distraction to other drivers.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 9:15 pm

of course this statement doesn't apply to any drivers that i'd say would frequent this forum...

but drivers out there could USE some friggin distractions that happen to be on the roadway instead of on their phone, their gps on their dash etc

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 9:16 pm

JeepinJarhead03 wrote:

how come? there's plenty of vehicles now that come with flashing 3rd brake lights?

I haven't seen any and that is one thing we must check on every vehicle(working brake lights).Those would very annoying,I know those motorcycles with those dang flashing headlights are dang annoying,stupid bikers can't figure out they need to turn that off at night.Just makes me want to run them off the road,I mean I can't see from the flashing lights so it's not my fault I can't see them,same as If TBJ rear ended a vehicle with a flashing brake lights wouldn't be at fault.It would stand in court,expect soon to hear some stupid crash stories from them.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 9:20 pm

i dont think a nominal brightness flashing 3rd brake light is going to levy a ruling in favor of a driver who rear ended that vehicle.. i think the judge would end up asking "well if you saw it flashing why didn't you apply your brakes, there were 2 other brake lights on as well?"

but then again i guess im one of those idiots who readys a brake whether or not the tail lights are flashing or steady on.. either way.. the brake lights came on :lol:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 9:29 pm

JeepinJarhead03 wrote:

i dont think a nominal brightness flashing 3rd brake light is going to levy a ruling in favor of a driver who rear ended that vehicle.. i think the judge would end up asking "well if you saw it flashing why didn't you apply your brakes, there were 2 other brake lights on as well?"

but then again i guess im one of those idiots who readys a brake whether or not the tail lights are flashing or steady on.. either way.. the brake lights came on :lol:

The flashing light would distract you from the other 2 brake lights and them flashing you have no idea if they are braking or not.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 9:42 pm

it's a 3rd brake light, why the hell would it be on if they weren't braking? Duh..

anyway, i don't have one so i don't know why i'm defending it, on the other hand NHTSA has been running tests for some time with flashing brake lights with timers to switch them to steady on and so far the tests have been favorable

and out of the scenereos of flashing, the 3rd brake light flashing with steady on normal brake lights had slightly higher ratings

they did some rather stranger tests though, such as all brake lights flashing with the 3rd flashing out of sequence with the brake lights, and alternatively flashing either side and what not

instead of quoting anything, can just check this out, i'm really not trying to argue anything, i simply don't have a problem with it

the CHMSL that NHTSA is testing is nothing but a fancy 3rd brake light that does alot more than just flash

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/staticfiles/DOT/NHTSA/NRD/Multimedia/PDFs/Crash%20Avoidance/2009/811127.pdf

Ryan09 · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 10:13 pm

I had one of those flashing third brake lights that I adapted from a motorcycle some ten years ago on my Classic Mini.
I also got ticketed back then for having it.
As it was considered a...
Get this...
A "Distraction"
Now ten years later people can buy these for their four wheel vehicles!

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 10:41 pm

i do believe that Canada has actually officially approved them for use on motor vehicles, US has yet to make such official statement as far as i know

InCommando · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 11:23 pm

Like those annoying bike headlights ( yes, I ride), the legality of these as an aftermarket install will vary by state. They do not appear to be addressed on a national level according to my very brief research.

It is not illegal to sell any number of mods that are not street legal. Use of the products on the road is illegal, not the sale of them with the "off road only" disclaimer.

For my take: Driving, like life, involves some risk. At some point some folks would be better off locking themselves in the house for fear that something might get them. :lol:

Seriously, though, I think this is a gadget freak thing. Look at the sig lines of the "pro's."

Guest · **Posted:** Tue May 12, 2009 12:12 am

JeepinJarhead03 wrote:

it's a 3rd brake light, why the hell would it be on if they weren't braking? Duh..

anyway, i don't have one so i don't know why i'm defending it, on the other hand NHTSA has been running tests for some time with flashing brake lights with timers to switch them to steady on and so far the tests have been favorable

and out of the scenereos of flashing, the 3rd brake light flashing with steady on normal brake lights had slightly higher ratings

they did some rather stranger tests though, such as all brake lights flashing with the 3rd flashing out of sequence with the brake lights, and alternatively flashing either side and what not

instead of quoting anything, can just check this out, i'm really not trying to argue anything, i simply don't have a problem with it

the CHMSL that NHTSA is testing is nothing but a fancy 3rd brake light that does alot more than just flash

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/staticfiles/DOT/NHTSA/NRD/Multimedia/PDFs/Crash%20Avoidance/2009/811127.pdf

In the 80s, the NHTSA's research showed that a 3rd brake light will decrease rear-end collisions by 50%.

In the late 90s, a follow-up study was done. Mind you, 1986 was the first year it was mandatory for cars, and 96 for trucks. Ever seen an older Dakota with a 3rd brake light on the tailgate?

It's a 96.

At any rate, their follow up study showed something like an 8% decrease in rear-end collisions.

Go figure, tire and brake advances (widespread use of radial tires on all cars, not just late-models, ABS, the trend of going to wider tires, etc) and only an 8% decrease.

For comparison's sake...a base model 1983 Thunderbird came with 195/70-14 tires. in 1993, that was upped to a 215/70-15. That is a significant increase of contact patch, plus add ABS into the equation.

What a torrential crap-storm of the deal.

Just FYI, the reason ThunderbirdJunkie knows most of this is because he did a research paper his Jr. year of High School on why the NHTSA is as useless as boobs growing on a weiner...

L.O. · **Posted:** Tue May 12, 2009 12:14 am

tjkj2002 wrote:

JeepinJarhead03 wrote:

I can't see from the flashing lights so it's not my fault I can't see them,same as If TBJ rear ended a vehicle with a flashing brake lights wouldn't be at fault.It would stand in court,expect soon to hear some stupid crash stories from them.

Do you have case law or statute law to support that position?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue May 12, 2009 12:21 am

L.O. wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

JeepinJarhead03 wrote:

I can't see from the flashing lights so it's not my fault I can't see them,same as If TBJ rear ended a vehicle with a flashing brake lights wouldn't be at fault.It would stand in court,expect soon to hear some stupid crash stories from them.

Do you have case law or statute law to support that position?

Why,google not working?Though my father has successfully beat a ticket/accident due to him plowing into the back of a vehicle since they could not prove the tail lights/brake lights worked before the accident since the 3rd brake light was burnt out and he totally smashed the tail lights.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue May 12, 2009 12:21 am

Common sense tells us that if we are driving down the road and see a bright red light we know to stop since bright red means ...stop. :shock:

If we are driving down the road and see a flasing red light, series of flashes or what ever people may see it but not understand that its a brake light until too late. BAM!!!! :cry:

But if thats what you need to stand out from the crowd and be noticed then by all means buy it and show off your little blinker. :lol:

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Tue May 12, 2009 12:27 am

L.O.
i'm not sure who you're quoting i didn't write that quote, however in the case you were referring to something else i said, i'm pretty comfortable in the following

court wise:
NHTSA test citing is sufficient enough and viable enough to bring up as supporting evidence that the flashing 3rd light should have drawn his attention to the brake lights instead of proving the opposite

a judge would most likely be led to believe that the following driver was not paying attention at all or following too closely in the first place

if your eyes are affixed on a flashing 3rd brake light you're probably going to notice the fact that the vehicle is getting closer and will apply the brake

if not you shouldn't be driving a vehicle.

on the devils advocate side, if a flashing brake light on a uninvolved vehicle causes you to hit a DIFFERENT vehicle, it would depend what state you were in

in NC if a non contact vehicle causes an accident everyone pays their own repairs, same deal if for instance TBJ rear ended someone here with one, TBJ would end up paying for their repairs, and they would end up paying for his since north carolina is a partal fault state, and it only requires a question of fault, tbj's possibly following too close, and the other drivers 'improper equipment'

If you're interested in such equipment i'd fire a letter off to your state's DOT, I'm about to do so just out of curiosity to see what they say

they'ed probably give you a pending approval and ask you to take it to a local DMV which it would be checked out, ya get a letter of approval and there's not a friggin thing a flashin 3rd blinky light hater can do about it, distracted or not

Guest · **Posted:** Tue May 12, 2009 12:29 am

tommudd wrote:

show off your little blinker. :lol:

That's what she said :shock:

Flashing third Break Light

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