3rd Brake Light Flasher

[OmaHahn]

What's your thoughts on these? My local Ford dealer is installing them on new cars as an added benefit for free. I found a nice one that lets you program it for only around $25! You can program it to flash rapidly or slowly and how many times it flashes.
Some people might find this annoying especially the person right behind you, but hey I have a 3 year old daughter that means the world to me and SO MANY dumb frickin people texting and just not paying attention, I'm going to go buy it now. I'm thinking about just going for the 3 count rapid flash then solid - I live in a city with a major headache for a commute so I don't want to annoy the people behind me since I'll be using my brakes - but if it helps avoid an accident especially with my daughter on board.....then too bad if it annoys anyone!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FADDOL4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[krewat]

I have one major objection to this. If I see a brake light flash, even if it's just the cyclops light and not all three brake lights, I assume it was just a 'tentative' hit on the brake pedal and don't think it's a solid press. If it flashes, I personally take that differently than solid on.

To each his own I guess But I wonder how many people will rear-end you anyway...

 

[OmaHahn]

You have to see it in person - it definitely grabs your attention! Keep in mind the tail lights are in full, bright, brake mode and then the 3rd brake light does a very quick 3-flash or as many as you want - and the flashes are very rapid it almost appears as a solid on, but it's like strobe - trust me, you won't mistake it as just a one-time just tapping or tentative!
Almost all luxury brands like Audi, Mercedes, BMW come with this feature as there's been tests done it's more effective at grabbing your attention.

 

[krewat]

I've seen it in action, actually, and my brain doesn't flag it correctly. But that's just me

 

[OmaHahn]

I've seen it in action, actually, and my brain doesn't flag it correctly. But that's just me

LOL!!! I hear you!

 

[Johnbigdog]

I have a dumb module on my motorcycle that flashes the brake light (converted to L.E.D.) fast 3x, slow 3x, then steady on. I did this after seeing it on an ambulance miles ahead of me as it grabbed my attention very well.

I guess I still haven't gotten over the flashing red light "oh fudge, what did I do wrong" sinking feeling.

 

[SilverSH0]

I've seen it in action, actually, and my brain doesn't flag it correctly. But that's just me

For most people it will grab their attention or at least get them to get their eyes up on the road paying attention to the car in front of them instead of down on their phone. Even if you don't flag it as brake lights it probably does a good job of getting your attention on the car instead of somewhere else. Ultimately if you're paying attention to the car in front of you brake lights aren't necessary because you adjust based off it's distance.

 

[SHOdded]

Gonna be a pileup in rush hour no matter what. Attention grabbing things also bring with them delay in decision making as well as more extreme rather than modulated reactions. Better driver training is the real need.

 

[Johnbigdog]

Gonna be a pileup in rush hour no matter what. Attention grabbing things also bring with them delay in decision making as well as more extreme rather than modulated reactions. Better driver training is the real need.

I agree that there is no continuing education for something everyne uses, and knows so little about or how to operate in extreme circumstances.

 

[OmaHahn]

Well, I hate to admit but one time I was the offender and I never take my eye off the road for too long - maybe as long as I do to look down at my speedometer, but I looked down to see who had called me because I rarely answer my phone in my car (I prefer to enjoy my car, listen to the radio, etc) but as I looked down, "something," grabbed my attention so I looked up quickly and the car in front of me had this feature on their 3rd brake light. So, my personal experience it worked great! And like I said, if it helps at least one person from not smashing into my rear end especially with my little daughter on board..... then it was successful!

 

[SilverSH0]

Gonna be a pileup in rush hour no matter what. Attention grabbing things also bring with them delay in decision making as well as more extreme rather than modulated reactions. Better driver training is the real need.

I agree with this 100%. However, there is nothing I can personally do to make the drivers around me better trained and keep them from looking down at their phones. The only thing I can do is put something on my vehicle that will grab someone's attention because they're a poor driver and hope they can make an extreme braking decision that avoids them rear ending me.

If there's going to be a pileup no matter what then that's ok because it's unavoidable. But what I try to avoid is the person looking at their phone when I start braking, them not paying attention, and then rear ending me (this is a VERY common issue). This is something that's 100% avoidable by better trained drivers or even half assed drivers simply paying attention to the road instead of the phone. But if my flashing brake can get their eyes back up on the road to comprehend that I'm braking then it's helping.