Third Brake Lights
About Third Brake Lights
Automotive lighting is among the most strictly regulated aspects of vehicles. The purpose of these regulations is to make the road a safer place. But what is the purpose of a third brake light? Aren’t there already two of them on either side that is large enough?
Have you heard about the Centre High Mounted Stop Lamps or CHMSL that is mandatory in all vehicles? It’s okay if you haven’t because that’s the legal name for the third brake light. Informally, you may call them third brake lights, high-level brake lights, eye-level lights, centre brake lamps, or, interestingly, cyclops brake lights. All vehicles that came out after 1986 in the US have had a third brake light. This was because numerous studies suggested that they can reduce the number of accidents by up to 50%. Before you start shopping, knowing a bit more about them will help you make a better purchasing decision.
Everything you need to know about CHMSL
The factory-fitted lights on the outside of your car are probably there for a reason. Almost all of them, from the headlamps to turn lights and brake lights, are necessary to get a road-legal certification. Or to put it plainly, you cannot drive a car without those lights. These brake lights are also among them. So, it is vital to ensure that the one on your car is functioning properly. If not, fix or replace them as fast as you can. This guide will tell you all about these lights, including the legal requirement and how you can customise them. Read on to find out.
The purpose of CHMSL
The CHMSL improves the visibility of the car and communicates the braking of the vehicle in front of you. The third light compensates for the comparatively lower height of corner brake lights. In some exotic cars, these corner brake lights can be too low even to notice. Also, in some countries, the corner brake lights double as the turn lights. In such places, the CHMSL helps to avoid confusion and reduce the number and intensity of rear-end crashes. But these days it is hard to measure its effectiveness of it as there are no vehicles without the third light to compare against.
Legal requirements
There are some guidelines regarding how and where the CHMSL should be. Firstly, it should illuminate steadily and should not flash when the driver pushes the brake pedals. But in some countries, flashing third lights to indicate a turn is acceptable. Secondly, the light should be at a height about the same as the eye level of the average driver sitting in the driver’s seat. It should also be at the lateral middle of the vehicle. For vehicles like vans, it is allowed to offset the light by a maximum of 15 centimetres. But you can install the CHMSL on a movable part like a trunk door, unlike the regular brake lights.
Custom CHMSL
Yes, there are quite a few strict legal regulations when it comes to the third brake lights. But that does not mean you are not supposed to customise them at all. In fact, you do have a good range of flexibility to personalise them while staying within the legal limits. You can change the vertical position of them your car’s rear window or change the shape and intensity of the lights. You can replace your old factory lights with brighter LED lights that consume less power than before. A brighter light (but not too bright) can possibly make it safer as they are more noticeable.
LED bar
These days LED lights are replacing most car lights. LED lights have distinctive aesthetics and are brighter without consuming much power. On top of it, they can easily last well over 20,000 hours. There is a variety of led light bars you can use for your third light. Unlike halogen bulbs, LED Lightbars to come in two varieties — single-mode and multi-mode lights. A single-mode light works similar to the regular lights, i.e., they turn on only when you push the brake pedal. Multi-mode lights, on the other hand, keep shining a dim red light whenever the headlight is on. And when the brake is pushed, the brighter red lights turn on.
Tips on how to buy Third Brake Lights
Brake lights serve a simple function — they light up when you stomp on the brake pedal. But, although not too complicated, there are a few things that can go wrong when you install an aftermarket centre brake lamp. Following these tips will help you look for the right ones for your car.
- Follow your local laws – Laws regarding the CHMSL vary slightly between different countries. In some places, a multi-mode third CMHSL is not legal. There are also regulations regarding the minimum and maximum brightness of the light. You can ensure that if the lights are street legal or not by checking the manufacturer’s specification of the light.
- Flashing lights – Some lights have flashing mode to indicate emergency braking. Although there is no clear evidence that it is effective in reducing accidents, it is a cool feature. But you should look for lights that do not flash too fast. For some people, lights that flash too quickly can cause discomfort and epilepsy.
- LED vs Halogen bulbs – These are the two main bulbs used in CHMSLs. If you are looking for an affordable option, go for the halogen ones as they are much cheaper than LED lights. But if you can afford them, then definitely go for the LED lights they are clearly superior to halogen lights.
- Vehicle specific vs generic lights – Vehicle specific lights will better complement the contour of your vehicle’s rear. You won’t face many complications when you are installing them either. But if you don’t find a good vehicle specific light for your car, there is no harm in using a generic CHMSL.
Brake lights first appeared in cars during the early 1900s. It was about the same time cars became a mainstream means of transport. There is no doubt that these lights have helped to avoid innumerable accidents and saved many lives. This is a testimony to how a seemingly insignificant thing can impact our daily lives. So, follow the traffic rules and drive safely!
Question & Answer
What is a CHMSL?
In some vehicles, the corner brake lights can be too low to notice. Therefore, CHMSL provide a braking indicator that is at the eye level of other motorists. Unlike the brake lights which may or may not flash, CHMSL provides a steady light. This helps avoid confusion and reduce accidents. In places where the corner brake lights also double as turn lights, CHMSLs are truly a lifesaver by helping the drivers to bring their attention to the road. To understand their significance, consider the fact that more than 3,300 people were killed in the US alone due to distracted driving.
Where should I install the CHMSL on the car?
There are very specific laws regulating the placement of CHMSLs on vehicles. They should be at a height that is about the same as the eye level of the average man who is sitting in the driving seat. It is okay to go a few inches above or below that. They should be right at the horizontal middle of the vehicles. In vans that have doors in the rear, this can offset a maximum of fifteen centimetres. But you can install it either inside the rear window glass or outside as you wish. And you can install it on the trunk door or the roof panel.
Is it illegal to drive without a working CHMSL?
Driving without a functioning third light is an easy way to get pulled over and get fined. It is a legal requirement in all countries to have your brake lights in proper working condition before you venture out to the public road. The light should also be in its proper place as well. For large vehicles like buses, the light should be at a height that is two times that of the brake lights. The light should not be too bright or too dim similar to the corner brake lights to serve the purpose. Therefore, not only is it illegal to drive without working third brake lights, but it also increases the likelihood of crashes.
Where to buy third brake lights?
If you are on the search for third lights, look no further as you are already in the right place. The best place to look for cheap third brake lights is online. There you will come across great quality third brake lights on sale all the time. And if you want to choose the best among them, you can use the product comparison sites. You can access a wide selection of car lights like rear lights and third brake lights using Shops.ae, the largest product search engine in the UAE. Here, you can also explore all kinds of car supplies from more than 500+ shops and brands, such as Spyderauto, Hella, Philips, Lumen, Anzo, and Recon.