Brake Light Flasher

[Mel]

It is obvious though......It got your attention, and you paid attention to what they are doing. Then evaluate the situation from there.
My 'Pet Peeve" is merging traffic that merges slower than the flow of traffic.

No actually it does just the opposite. It's like the little boy who cried wolf. The stop lights are on more than they are off so it means nothing.

 

[Elf]

The blinking third light is illegal in some states on automobiles .Of coarse everything seems illegal now days .I have one on my corvette as I travel Interstate 4 in Florida which is famous for rear enders ..Besides as I always say they won't take me alive

 

[TCBronson]

$3.29 and free shipping on Ebay.
Alternating sequence - fast strobe to solid to fast strobe etc...

They go on the license plate.
I've got a version of these strobes on my V-Star.
They're to be used in addition to your brake lights
They look yellow here, but rest assured that they're bright red.
These things are super bright and make the person behind you brake.
I just don't get what advantage the expensive "progressive" feature gives you.

View attachment 9647

View attachment 9645

View attachment 9644

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-Motorcyc...ash=item567307a221:g:7lEAAOSw34FVHgzt&vxp=mtr

I guess you don't want anybody to steal your license plate!

 

[Jim H]

Stealing license plates is common I. New Mexico

 

[Lil4X]

I see those flashing LED's on city trucks and school buses. They're used as running lights rather than brake lights, which kinda dilutes their purpose, but they DO get your attention. As brake lights in the CHMSL, they would get attention and hopefully reduce rear-enders.

 

[Elio Amazed]

I guess you don't want anybody to steal your license plate!

Nope. I use the padlocks to lock the helmet(s) to the luggage rack.
The big bags cover up the OEM helmet locks.

 

[Rob Croson]

Flashing brake lights are illegal, from what I understand, all across the US:

http://forums.officer.com/t80993/

Ohio revised Code:
"4513.17 Limit on number of lights.
C)(1) Flashing lights are prohibited on motor vehicles, except as a means for indicating a right or a left turn, or in the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, or overtaking or passing. "

Certain exceptions are made for various vehicles to have flashing amber lights, but no other colors. Safety vehicles and school buses can use flashing red/white, and police using blue/white.

Also, this:
"FYI those flashing brake light kits are ILLEGAL in all states because flashing brake lights violate FMVSS108"

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?node=se49.6.571_1108
FMVS1108 requires brake lamps and high mount brake lamps to be "steady burning".

So just be aware that what you may be installing on your vehicle may be illegal, in just about every state. And when you're driving late at night, the police are looking for *any* reason to pull you over, so they can check for drunk drivers. Also, if you get in an accident, equipment violations may open you up for risk of liability.

 

[ehwatt]

Flashing brake lights are illegal, from what I understand, all across the US:

http://forums.officer.com/t80993/

Ohio revised Code:
"4513.17 Limit on number of lights.
C)(1) Flashing lights are prohibited on motor vehicles, except as a means for indicating a right or a left turn, or in the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, or overtaking or passing. "

Certain exceptions are made for various vehicles to have flashing amber lights, but no other colors. Safety vehicles and school buses can use flashing red/white, and police using blue/white.

Also, this:
"FYI those flashing brake light kits are ILLEGAL in all states because flashing brake lights violate FMVSS108"

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?node=se49.6.571_1108
FMVS1108 requires brake lamps and high mount brake lamps to be "steady burning".

So just be aware that what you may be installing on your vehicle may be illegal, in just about every state. And when you're driving late at night, the police are looking for *any* reason to pull you over, so they can check for drunk drivers. Also, if you get in an accident, equipment violations may open you up for risk of liability.

That has been my understanding.

 

[Brainmatter]

The 3rd brake lamp on my wife's new vehicle flashes rapidly upon initial application (about 4 flashes) and then burns steadily for the rest of the brake duration. If the brake pedal is 'pumped' the flash sequence only happens once. It seems to reset the flash sequence after the brake lights remain inactive for about 10 seconds, otherwise, it acts as a normal brake lamp. This item was installed by the dealer who installs them on ALL vehicles they sell unless you specifically tell them not to.
It is very effective at getting attention.
10,000 miles so far no police have cared. I like it, I notice it, and will install it on my Elio, legal or not, because it works. Our biggest problem as Elio drivers, no matter how 'safe' the Elio turns out to be, will be being seen. Other drivers WILL look around us, over us, and not see us. I'd rather not be in an accident if possible; that is the safest proposition of them all.
Despite being "safe" just ask an honest Fortwo owner who drives much at all how many times they had to make themselves noticed.

I repeat... the brake light does NOT flash steadily or constant when applied.

https://www.amazon.com/Attention-Fl..._UL160_SR160,160_&refRID=AF21KGN3TT58WPVDQC91

 

[Rob Croson]

One thing I have heard, and this may be urban legend, hearsay, or whatever, is that an initial couple blinks before becoming steady is somehow considered legal. Also, there appears to be a difference between "pulsing" and "blinking".

http://www.pulseprotects.com/faq/

"While the national highway safety laws restrict flashing lights to emergency vehicle use only, the Pulse award winning design causes the 3rd brake light to remain steady burning, even while it pulses four times."

Apparently so long as the light never actually turns off while it is "pulsing", that's still considered as a "steady burning" enough to be not blinking. One of the forums I was browsing while looking this stuff up said that this pulsing is what the high mount brake light on the Mini Cooper does.

Mercedes petitioned the NHTSA to allow them to use blinking brake lights. NHTSA said No. http://docs.regulations.justia.com/entries/2005-05-23/05-10136.pdf

However... it is important to note that all of the cases where manufacturers and dealers are using "pulsing" brake lights is for the center high brake light ONLY. They do NOT install them on the combo brake/turn lights. (Check the FAQ at the Signal dynamics site: http://signaldynamics.com/ .) The manufacturers specifically tell you to NOT install them on combo turn/brake lights, as the signal pattern will be inconsistent and confusing to other drivers. IIRC the Elio will not have a center high brake light.