The Third Brake Light - Who Invented Them & Why We NEED Them!

The story behind why cars sold in the United States of America require a third, high-mounted brake light!

#1980sCars

[ShootingCars]

CARS WERE BETTER IN THE 80’s STICKER NOW AVAILABLE!

[reallyrandomrides]

I wasn't even of driving age yet, but I remember when the Center High Mount Stop Lamp (CHMSL) became mandatory on cars in 1986. At the time, it seemed like a gimmick and some people speculated that any reduction in rear end crashes was due to the novelty/newness of the 3rd brake light. I recall some cars didn't get them until a bit later (Accord hatchback comes to mind, no idea how some cars got exempt). Now we have modules that can make the center brake light flash a few times to get driver's attention because we've become so used to them.

[catsspat]

DOT: "Safety #1"
Also DOT: "Red turn signal light shared with brake light is okay with us."
As usual, government entities being nonsensical.

[toxicpineapple]

In heavy traffic, I use the third brake light of the second car ahead of me to start braking when a slowdown occurs. I can often see it through the car ahead of me.

[erictaylor]

I remember when this 3rd break light was introduced. In fact, it happened the year I got my driver's license (I actually got it December 30, 1985, but it was so close to 1986...)
I very much remember thinking what a great idea it was, because it made it much easier to see when someone was stopping.

[GrnXnham]

I've always said that the 3rd brake light was one of the best ever CHEAP safety features added to cars. Young people just take it for granted that they've always been there and don't even think about it. But for those of us who are much older, we drove many cars without that 3rd brake light.

[uncinarynin]

I remember that before the third brake light became standard, kits of brake lights to mount under the roof behind the rear window were kind of popular in Europe.
One argument not mentioned in this video: They are easier to see not just by the vehicle directly behind, but further behind as well, helping to avoid mass collisions in dense traffic, which became a problem in that era because many drivers didn't keep enough safety distance.

From 1938 to 1983 Germany (and probably other countries) allowed yellow brake lights. Interestingly the third brake light is still not required by German law. It is installed as a standard in new vehicles however, to be legal in all countries.

[cjm]

Why we need them. I was literally behind a car yesterday that had both break lights out. Luckily, I saw that middle light. Maintain your cars, people.

[mikeske]

I was a automotive mechanic from the mid 1970's and remember when they came out. They used to sell retrofit kits for cars back then that could be installed in the back package shelf of sedans. I know I could install a retrofit kit with a template for lights either drill holes or if it positioned correctly with a punch in a matter of a half hour. String the wire to the brake light wires I strip a small section the brake light wire on the car and fit the small control box for the 3rd brake light so it would not blink with the turn signal and then solder the wire connection and tape it up. Then position the brake light control on the outside of the trunk support and then secure the wiring. I made good money for a couple years from the folks who retrofitted their cars with those third brake lights. I also did it to my older car just for the safety aspect of it all.

[UmmYeahOk]

1:28 In 1914 Florence Lawrence developed an early version of the vehicle turn signal we use today. Not the man you mention 14 years later. She developed a mechanical signalling arm that at a press of a button, raised or lowered a flag on the car’s rear bumper that told other drivers which way the car was going to turn. At the time, turn signals, brake lights and windscreen wipers were not part of many or any motor vehicle's offering.

Not only did Lawrence create this indicating signalling system, but she also built a brake signal that when the brake pedal was pushed, a STOP sign flipped up from the car’s rear bumper. A standard and expected feature in today’s vehicles but at the time, these were truly unique and groundbreaking.

[zackercracker]

I do inspections on vehicles and sometimes when peoples 3rd brake lights are out they want to argue on why they need the 3rd one. This video will be a good pointer to show them why we need them.

[jonathanryan]

I remember being a little kid in the 80's and I knew the cars were new if they had the 3rd brake light. Made sense to me as a kid. Especially when there were still 60's and 70's cars running around with one brake light not working, or one tail light is twice as bright as the other one. Sometimes you had to second guess if the car was stopping or turning

[privateinformation]

I still remember my great grandpa telling me stories about when he first got turn signals and everyone in town would stare at his truck because he didn't have to open the window to turn.
His truck didn't come with turn signals, he just made his own

[turbo_alice]

3rd brake lights were made mandatory about the late 90's in Europe (in france it was in '97)
my Peugeot 205s didn't have them, and i had to source tailgates from latest models after 97 so i could have 3rd brake lights on them

[SimonASNG]

I lived this one tangentially. In the years after 1986, aftermarket 3rd brake lights were pretty popular and my father sold and installed thousands of them in 1987. We had boxes and boxes of them in our house.

[ShootingCars]

I hope you enjoyed it! April 20th we will revisit automotive lighting: The Rise And Fall Of Pop-Up Headlights!

[akfifa]

Could you do a documentary on the bench seat?

[yfsneals]

I first saw a high center brake light sold as an accessory in parts stores. The reason they worked, according to the literature, was that they could be seen through the greenhouse of the next car, giving the driver behind that one more time to react. Made sense, like stick-on blind spot mirrors.

[pauld]

I like it. It helps me see through the car ahead of me, to the brake lights of the car in front of them. It reduces multiple rear end crashes

[OuelletteBrandon]

To be honest, there’s been many a time I’ve been driving in traffic and an older vehicle begins braking without that third brake light, and I don’t notice immediately. I got my licence in 2013, well after their introduction though. I’d still say they’re super effective, especially in reducing ambiguity. Now for us North Americans to recognise how effective amber turn indicators are as opposed to our red does all situation.