Brake lights

[shugie]

After one or two episodes where the car behind seemed to be stopping rather late (including one on the way to East Midlands this year where a VW beetle very nearly got me at some traffic lights), I decided to see if there was some easy way to get the numbskulls to engage the gray matter slightly earlier.

Having already replaced the bulb with a Nippy LED rear light, and having seen the flashing rear lights on a video of the BMW Offroad course, I had a look at what I could use to flash the brake LEDS. Kisan make something suitable, but no one imports it. But then I found this

from http://www.smidsy.biz/LEDbrakeModulator.php. It puts the brake light on for half a second, then 15 flashes in the next second and half, then back to steady on. Quite noticeable.

Slight issue with the CANBUS fluid boiling, but I found a couple of 380 ohm resistors in paralel across the input side (brake light power to earth) sorted that out.

And it works too, the short burst of flashes seems to get a lot more attention than just the brake light going on, certainly vehicles gave me a bit more space when I stopped. Clearly it won't stop the myopic, and I will continue to pay close attention astern when stopped, but I think the modest cost of £26.70 is a good investment.

 

[Schtum]

I've got a friend in California who has a modulator on the brake light for his GS and it's certainly eye-catching when you're following him. However, I thought that light modulators weren't legal here in the UK.....

 

[stolzy]

I've got a friend in California who has a modulator on the brake light for his GS and it's certainly eye-catching when you're following him. However, I thought that light modulators weren't legal here in the UK.....

I've got a similar device with LED brake light and a strip of red LEDs in the indicators. Lights up like a Xmas tree on steroids when the whole lot is flashing.

Pretty sure they're illegal, but it'd take a special kind of RoboCop to nick you for it, but doubtless there are a few around.

I've been followed by police and Gendermes a couple of times, but nothing was ever said.

Although, I'm sure some cars have flashing stop lights as standard these days.

 

[muppix]

Although, I'm sure some cars have flashing stop lights as standard these days.

I've seen quite a few BMW and Mercedes where the indicators flash if you throw out the anchors with enthusiasm, but never seen a flashing brake light.

Can't see what the problem is myself through, weren't we taught to 'pulse' the brakes in the days before ABS?

M.

 

[Stormforce8]

I have the Kisan modulating brake light on my 1150. never been commented on by any police officers, but I have to swap it over at MOT time as it's not a 'steady on' light, which my local MOT chap says is a fail.

 

[shugie]

I have the Kisan modulating brake light on my 1150. never been commented on by any police officers, but I have to swap it over at MOT time as it's not a 'steady on' light, which my local MOT chap says is a fail.

I will have to do some re-wiring come MOT time then. Although if you hold the brakes on the light does go to steady on after the 15 quick flashes, so perhaps that would be ok?

 

[Surrey Yeoman]

Flashing brake lights as described above would be illegal in the UK as well as an MOT failure point. Same with flashing/pulsing/modulating headlamps.

FOR THE GOOD BOOK SAYETH, "ALL LAMPS TO SHOW A STEADY LIGHT AND ALL THOSE THAT TRANSGRESS SHALL BE CAST DOWN INTO THE PIT OF ETERNAL DAMNATION!" (or summat like that )

Most likely result with a "keen" plod would be a £30.00 fixed penalty ticket (no points) or an "invitation" to take part in the Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme (a fixit slip).

Possibly worth the risk if it makes you more visible to the myopic twats behind?!

As ever with these things, you pays yer money - you takes yer chances.

By the way, the apparently flashing brake lights on the BMW ORS videos is just an effect of the video, not the lamps actually flashing.

Yaarrppp!

 

[Mr K]

I have the Nippy Norman "Deluxe" LED tail-light and the indicators with a stripof red brake LEDs in them. Looks like this:



No flashing and passed MOT twice.