High Level Brake Light
I have a Swift Challenger with a high level brake light; a few of the LEDs have failed. Does anyone know of a legal requirement to have a high level brake light working? MoT advice only mentions the normal brake lights each side on a trailer or caravan
and high level ones on the towing vehicle.
Comments
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Maybe if a light is fitted it should work ,bit if theres no clear requirement ,it's a tricky one
Have you looked in to the cost of a new one ??
What would the insurance implication be if someone ran in to the back of you ???
If your indurer mentions it then you can always say it was working when you set off.
More to the point it is not the vehicle behind you that is the problem ad normally they watch the regular brake lights. The high level ones are so the one behind the one behind you can see you brake and they would hit the car behind you.
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I understand if there is a light fitted it should be working and now as there is a high level brake light fitted to recent vehicles this would be required to work.
Write your comments here...The lawers could have a field day with this one. How many LED's need to be 'not' working before the light is considered defective? I would imagin it would be for a court to decide and a different set of magistrates coulld have
a different opinion.0 -
How many LED's need to be 'not' working before the light is considered defective? I would imagin it would be for a court to decide and a different set of magistrates coulld have a different opinion.
Minimum of 50% of the LED's or incandescent bulbs must be working.
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No requirement on a trailer as there is no MOT equivalent for them unless we stay in EU.
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The point of the extra brake lights (they don't have to be high level) is that following drivers might not notice the difference between the normal rear lights and the brake lights, using twin element bulbs, as fitted to the majority of cars.
Although there is a marked difference in output between 5 and 21 watt bulbs, if the lights are perhaps dirty, and the following driver should be distracted at the moment that the brakes are applied the extra brake light is a useful means of alerting them.
Stupidly our local ambulances high level / extra brake lights are twin element bulbs defeating the object!!0 -
The point of the extra brake lights (they don't have to be high level) is that following drivers might not notice the difference between the normal rear lights and the brake lights, using twin element bulbs, as fitted to the majority of cars.
Although there is a marked difference in output between 5 and 21 watt bulbs, if the lights are perhaps dirty, and the following driver should be distracted at the moment that the brakes are applied the extra brake light is a useful means of alerting them.
Stupidly our local ambulances high level / extra brake lights are twin element bulbs defeating the object!!Exactly and it's why rear fog lights can be so dangerous ....... the bright fog lights are very distracting and disguise the break lights! Has always suprised me that a different colour of light could not be used as fog lights?
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Exactly and it's why rear fog lights can be so dangerous ....... the bright fog lights are very distracting and disguise the break lights! Has always suprised me that a different colour of light could not be used as fog lights?
Which is Mercedes' reason for fitting just one rear fog light (offside or middle) .... I disagree but ....
What colour do you suggest? Blue? .... green? .... there's not much left after you disregard red, yellow & white
PS ..... it's a brake light .....
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I think it will be the same as a car, if it is fitted it must be working
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Bigherb's reply is the correct one. In a light with multiple bulbs or LED's there must be at least 50% in working order.
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