The problem with blinking taillights – Editor Speaks

The Philippines is home to some driving peculiarities. These can range from those that are generally accepted to some that are dangerous. An example of this would be that most people think cutting in line is okay, as long as their turn signal is on. Generally, accepted? Maybe. Annoying and inconsiderate? Yes. Dangerous? Depends, maybe not so much when in stop-and-go traffic. How about hazard lights in the rain? Not able to indicate turns and lane changes? Downright dangerous. Speaking of blinking lights, let’s talk about a sickness that has been plaguing some vehicle owners: strobing or blinking brake lights.

Constantly blinking brake lights are one of the most unsafe modifications you can do to your vehicle. While it may look cool and something from a race car, it's something that can easily confuse other drivers. It's important to remember that a brake light is meant to project a bright, solid, red light to signify that you are slowing down or stopping each time the pedal is pressed. In addition to this, your brake lights must also be distinguishable from your tail lights to make it easier for other drivers to follow you in traffic. In some cases, manufacturers even go as far as changing the shapes by creating a mix of vertical or horizontal bulbs. With that said, having constantly blinking brake lights is not only dangerous but highly illegal as well in every part of the world where vehicles are sold and driven on public roads.

This brings up the question, is there such a thing as legal blinking brake lights? To some extent, yes. In more modern vehicles, the brake lights have two functions—a steady, brighter red, and a quick few flashes before going to a solid red. The blinking function only activates when the brake pedal is pressed quickly and hard during emergency braking situations. Ever hear of an emergency stop signal (ESS) feature in modern cars? That stop signal uses the brake lights to help supplement the hazard lights when coming to an emergency stop to warn vehicles following behind. Some motorcycle brands, such as BMW, are also experimenting with the idea of a dynamic brake light that blinks a few times when emergency braking is applied. The key difference here in all these applications is that the brake lights turn solid and steady after the initial warning blinks.

When it comes to blinking brake lights there are legal issues that surround it. The first is from the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, and the second comes from Presidential Decree Number 96. The Land Transportation and Traffic Code states that “every motor vehicle shall be equipped with at least one lamp which shall throw a sustained bright red light visible under all conditions, even under bright sunlight, when the brakes are applied.'' While Presidential Decree Number 96 has this to say: “That it shall be unlawful for the owner or possessor of any motor vehicle to use or attach to his vehicle any siren, bell, horn, whistle, or other similar gadgets that produce exceptionally loud or startling sounds, including dome lights, blinkers, and other similar signaling or flashing devices.” The strobing brake lights in question can technically be considered as blinkers since there is no distinction between those used by emergency vehicles and private vehicles as brake lights; it’s all up to interpretation. That’s two counts against these constantly blinking brake lights in the eyes of the law.

These strobing brake lights are dangerous because they go against everything we know about how car lights operate. Every driver is trained to recognize the constant red from brake lights as a warning of slowing down or stopping, and the pattern of the flashing isn’t recognizable as the universal indicator for brake lights. Since they never switch to the solid brake lights, we are left to only make out the center-mounted third brake light, which is meant to supplement the standard pair of OEM brake lights. That small strip, combined with an annoying flashing pattern, creates an unsafe driving environment for following vehicles. These lights are blinding, distracting, and put you and the driver at risk for an accident. Our solution? If you encounter these lights on the road, it’s best to avoid following closely and change lanes. Of course, the longer-term solution is to ban the sale and import of these things, to begin with. Maybe it’s time for traffic enforcers to start handing out more tickets?