Independent Renault Forums banner

are flashing brake lights legal?

20K views 63 replies 18 participants last post by  alize 
#1 ·
Hi,

Just have been hit from behind because the guy didn’t see my brake lights in time. I am thinking to fit a module that will make the third brake light to flash few times before going solid. Have seen such devices available for sale. I am just wondering whether they are legal or not? Will such car pass an MOT? Do I have to consider that my car is modified and inform the insurance company after fitting such device? Any ideas or comments on this guys? It seems that Mercedes has already implemented such feature on some new models, but the brake lights will flash only under heavy brake. So far I haven't found a clear legal reference on this issue. Many thanks for your feedback.
 
#3 ·
Tiggerz is right I think as only hazard lights and indicators flash you need to be very clear about this,my friend is a MOT tester and I think he said to me before that brake lights need to be clear bright and stay on when the brake pedal is applied but having said all this I'm not a MOT tester and their are some people that are on the forum so they could probably give a clear idea.

kind regards Mickyboy10001http://www.renaultforums.co.uk/images/smilies/baseballbat.gif
:baseballbat:
 
#4 ·
No, there are definitely cars that flash the brake lights under heavy braking...

I've seen a Merc with that feature, and a couple of other 'premium' cars...
 
#10 ·
I don't know who legitimately has them, to be honest. Doesn't a proper unmarked police car have disco headlights? I assumed the 'stick on' jobs are primarily used by doctors.

Not sure I'd use one for handing out on-the-spot fines, but they'd be handy on the Old Kent Road at six in the evening.

EDIT: you edited!
 
#11 ·
As far as I know it is not an offence to have flashing lights on top of your car unless you use them for either an illegal purpose or where it may cause an accident or you are purporting to impersonate a police officer. There is an american ex-police car which drives around my part of the world from time to time and as long as it doesn't cause a nuisance the police leave it alone - in fact I have seen them stop him for a lookover just for the fun of it. Now if you had balring two-tone horns as well that may be a different matter. Surely if I can put flashing lights on the roof of my house at Christmas why not my car:rofl: :rofl:
 
#13 ·
thanks for all your feedback. well, don't want to put red lights on top of my car and run a siren. just to make the third brake light flashing few times before going solid. hope in this way the car behind will see me in time. have asked the guys who are selling such devices. here is their answer:

"
Basically, it is illegal to have brake lights that flash constantly as police have flashing red lights. The units will make your lights flash 6times and then enter the steady on condition. MOT wise the rear lights must come on and stay on whilst the brakes are applied, again as the unit will enter the steady on condition this is OK. It is worth noting that Mercedes are looking to offer the facility as an option and that the new GT40 has them as standard.
"

of course they have all the interest to sell such items, but is there somewhere written they are legal, or illegal?... just wondering what the insurance company would say about this...
 
#47 ·
Thanks for the link. Have posted my question there but may still take some time until and if they will answer it.

Have found a review to the new B-Class Mercedes:

http://www.testdriven.co.uk/news.cfm/mercedes-benz-b-class-revised-for-2008

"
Active safety: flashing brake lights as warning to other motorists
...
The flashing brake lights are triggered automatically if the driver initiates emergency braking when travelling at a speed of 30 mph or more. And if the B-Class is braked to a stop from a speed of over 45 mph, the hazard warning lights will come on too.
...
"

I guess should be legal, at least have some arguments in case I will be stopped for using it
 
#21 ·
Yes I've heared of the brake lights that get brighter with harder braking. I believe these are road legal in places like Germany, but not over here. Probably a neat and easy thing to do with these horrible LED brake lights cars seem to have these days.

Actually, thinking about it, the LED brake lights are OK, its the indicators that annoy me. They don't flash "properly" IMO like an incandescant bulb that "fades" on/off/on. There is no "fade" on the LED's, so it's a harsh "on/off/on" and it hurts my eyes and brain.

/rant :)

I agree re: earth problems, I had all that to sort on the Megane, sigh. :rolleyes:
 
#26 ·
:rofl: lmao Pat!

I can even listen to a MW/LW radio station with the engine/lights/wipers on and still hear the DJs. Not a strange electricy engine type noise... Not that I listen to MW/LW stations much, mind.
 
#29 ·
LEDs are brilliant. Aside from the obvious benefit of much reduced power consumption and the fact that you'll probably never have to worry about a failed bulb in the life of the vehicle; they're also much faster to reach full brightness than incandescents, making them much safer for brake lights, where even the fraction of a second difference in noticing the car in front is braking could make the difference.
 
#30 ·
True enough. I was wrong about the brake lights...

But the indicators are bl00dy annoying IMO. The fact that incandescant bulbs take a short time to reach full brightness means that you can actually look at them. I have the feeling that I'm probably alone on this one, but I find LED indicators really difficult and brain hurting to look at.

As for bulb lifetime/power consumption - bulbs don't cost the earth at the end of the day, but I suppose a lot of cars these days make bulbs a right PITA to change so in this respect the LED's are much better. I can't see that power consumption makes much of a difference really, on a car anyway! :)
 
#32 ·
ep, Bimmer 3 series and V Dub Passats I find. I've noticed a lot of traffic lights are now LED's too. It just doesn't look right.

Now, the LED's in my kitchen are a different issue entirely :d
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top