Custom Brake Lights

[DaveFitz12]

I am NOT in anyway making money from this. However check out this website: www.custombrakelights.com I just received stickers from them and he should have them available on his website any day now. Here is the latest customization to my Fiat. It’s an easy, quick and inexpensive way to make your car standout from the rest. check out the pix and make sure you let them know where you heard about them from. Thanks Dave Fitz.

 

[Ziggy122]

shame he doesn't actually have a Fiat section on his website

TBh tho - in the UK ebay is plastered with these anyway

Ziggy

 

[sludgeguts]

Followed one of these the other day, half the lights behind the sticker were'nt working & only his NS brake light worked.
I really cannot see the point in blacking out most of your brake lights, the idea of having brake lights is to inform other drivers that you are slowing rapidly.
I also wonder how your insurance company will feel when you tell them about this 'mod' ?

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I really cannot see the point in blacking out most of your brake lights, the idea of having brake lights is to inform other drivers that you are slowing rapidly.
I also wonder how your insurance company will feel when you tell them about this 'mod' ?

Agreed.

 

[DaveFitz12]

Ziggy, He should have them up on his website soon. He sent me the prototypes for me to take pictures. So hopefully they will be available soon.

for the other comments about blacking out most of the brake light...how many times do you have to slam on your brakes and have to worry about other drivers running into you??? I've had these stickers on all of my cars for the past 6 years and not once was i ever rear-ended. If the driver behind you is not paying attention they're not paying attention, it wont matter if you have your brake light customized or not.

 

[sludgeguts]

Ziggy, He should have them up on his website soon. He sent me the prototypes for me to take pictures. So hopefully they will be available soon.

for the other comments about blacking out most of the brake light...how many times do you have to slam on your brakes and have to worry about other drivers running into you??? I've had these stickers on all of my cars for the past 6 years and not once was i ever rear-ended. If the driver behind you is not paying attention they're not paying attention, it wont matter if you have your brake light customized or not.

The third light reduced rear end collisions by 50% when they were introduced. BTW, it might not stop the tailgater from smashing into you but one of its primary functions is to provide advance warning to drivers two or three cars back.
I'd love to read your insurance company's take on covering most of the light (that 500's light is barely visible). - you have informed them of this mod?

 

[2668GRIFFIN]

Any one covering up there third brake light deserves a rear end shunt, plus insurance won't pay up on such a claim.
Don't be a prat and leave your lights alone.
Also tinting them is just as bad, lights are there for a reason.
Luigi

 

[dave]

didn't know we had so many experts on usa insurance rules on here

 

[2668GRIFFIN]

To be fare, you don't have to be an expert.
If you were following a car and it braked and you did'nt because his brake lights were tinted/covered with a sticker or whatever, i would kick the driver of the car into next week
luigi

 

[sludgeguts]

didn't know we had so many experts on usa insurance rules on here

USA insurance rules?
UK insurance - "have you modified your car?" Means - have you added or taken anything which changes your vehicle from the way it was supplied?

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

USA insurance rules?

OP appears to be an American.

 

[sludgeguts]

ahhhh, I see. Although I would have thought the Americans would come down even harder given their claim culture?

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Although I would have thought the Americans would come down even harder given their claim culture?

My thoughts exactly.

 

[LeighJet150]

Even in the UK they would just go under vinyls and decals to the insurance company. They don't care where you put them as long its not breaking any car laws, like covering windws that shouldn't be. It is not hard to tell the difference in the brightness of the brake light in operation, even if it is partially covered by a sticker, if you can't see it maybe you shouldn't be driving?

I'm pretty sure there are more people driving around with only 1 brake light working that people have decals on them and as long as their other 2 lights are working fine it wont be any problem. At the end of the day, if you are the required distance back and paying attention there shouldn't be any problems because regardless of what you think you will still be at fault

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

At the end of the day, if you are the required distance back and paying attention there shouldn't be any problems because regardless of what you think you will still be at fault

Required distance - aka the 2 second rule, is taking into assumption that brake lights are properly visible, not 50% tinted or covered.

No case law as yet to advise who would be at fault though, but I'm sure some insurance companies would be happy to fight along with it if it'll prevent a hefty payout. Although namely more likly to manage this with hevily tinted tail/stop lights rather than a covered 3rd stop light as it isn't required by law unfortunatly.

 

[Ziggy122]

i cant see too much of an issue if you do the reverse - ie only blank the name not leave the name visible?

Has anybody thought about making the 3rd light brighter so it can be seen better again?
LED ftw?

Ziggy

 

[2668GRIFFIN]

MOST EASTERLY I DITTO WHAT YOU SAY.:worship:
DID'NT THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT COME INTO FORCE TO STOP REAR END PRANGS.SO IF COVERED/ TINTED LIGHTS WERE FOUND TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE SHUNT BECAUSE THE DRIVER BEHIND DID'NT KNOW THE CAR IN FRONT WAS BREAKING,THEN SURLY THE DEFACING OF MOT LEGAL REQUIREMENT IE''LIGHTS''WOULD BE AT FAULT? NOT THE POOR GUY BEHIND.
I'M GOING TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND TO SETTLE THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL.
LUIGI

 

[LeighJet150]

MOST EASTERLY I DITTO WHAT YOU SAY.:worship:
DID'NT THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT COME INTO FORCE TO STOP REAR END PRANGS.SO IF COVERED/ TINTED LIGHTS WERE FOUND TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE SHUNT BECAUSE THE DRIVER BEHIND DID'NT KNOW THE CAR IN FRONT WAS BREAKING,THEN SURLY THE DEFACING OF MOT LEGAL REQUIREMENT IE''LIGHTS''WOULD BE AT FAULT? NOT THE POOR GUY BEHIND.
I'M GOING TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND TO SETTLE THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL.
LUIGI

Im pretty sure the MOT requirement is 3 functioning rear brake lights. The third one was brought in so if one failed there was another there to ensure you had at least 2 working, but this one still is working so it a pass with no problems. Hell a reverse light is not an MOT requirement, oh and modifying is not the same as defacing FYI, therefore would not be at fault. Please go on though the mixture of caps lock and you telling people how it should be is keeping me entertained.

 

[Ziggy122]

Technically the rear 3rd brake light would work
and an MOT man wont fail because of it

I like them personally - If done correctly - its still bright and clean - all your doing is just taking the very edges away which dont have light anyway!

ziggy

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

As far as I'm aware 3rd stop light is required for vehicle type approval at manufacture, but not an MOT failure if not functioning - how ever is it a failure if less than a certain % is working (eg the mk1 Bravo with 20 odd individual buls in it would fail if a certain number fail and a certain number work, but not if all have failed). This was how it was a little while back now, not sure if its change with the numerous other MOT change that have happened this year or not.