The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Addition of "Third Brake Light'

I have been researching the DOT/NHTSA requirements for use of a "Third Bake Light". I am wanting to incorporate a light assembly on the beltline just below the rear window on my 59' cab. The placement of this would put the light above the front bed panel and centered on the back of the cab.

So far I have found nothing that stipulates placement or a minimum height or size requirement. The state of Ga. follows the DOT guidelines and only stipulates that the light must be steady and cannot flash or pulse. Does anyone have any additional information that I could reference?

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/United-Pacific-37491-Tail-Lights-and-Components-Third-Brake-Light,343129.html

I've got LED Lamps That have proven to be brighter than original.

Julian Carter

I put these round red LED's in my bed rail and wired them as my third brake lights...people that have followed me say they are bright and do the job. No cutting required!

https://www.classicparts.com/1941-8...sRN9N_gReTOfUr0o6pmkPGO8pmRoCOgwQAvD_BwE

Mike B

I know of no state that requires a retrofit of a third brake light to any vehicle not originally equipped with one.

Therefore, I seriously doubt there are any requirements for the placement of a third brake light on vehicles that never had one to begin with? How could they even enforce such a rule if one existed? Every vehicle is different and it would be impossible to set a height requirement in the first place.

Look at new cars. None of the third brake lights are in the same location or height from one vehicle to the next.

I'm with Otto. I believe there are also some cars that use high mount brake lights on both sides without a third in the center.
It's a good idea to have something, given current drivers tendency to tailgate and obscure their view of lower mounted brake lights. I think there are too many drivers out there who got their license from a box of Cracker Jacks.

But a trip to the wrecking yard could score what you're looking for. A high mount/cargo light assembly from a modern pickup could be mounted above the rear window (opposite where the dome light mounts on an AD - I don't recall if a '59 uses the same dome light location.) My F250 has one that I think could be pressed into service for that application.

My thought was to have more visibility for other drivers than just the stop lights. I have looked at how other vehicles have the third light mounted, I was more concerned about a minimum height requirement.

Looking at other trucks and how there third lights were mounted I decided that mounting the light below the window at the belt line would not be too obscure. I want something that doesn't take away from the clean lines on the body. Mounting the light flush with back of the cab would keep it looking clean.

I have original style LED tail light for the rear.

The only issue I see would be if your cargo was blocking the light.

I have a light similar to these, mine was from JC Whitney years ago. It's mot even noticeable till the brake lights come on, best part was no body modifications. https://www.ronfrancis.com/product/684

If I were going to mount a third brake light, I'd install it on the inside of the rear window glass in such a way that it could be removed without permanently damaging the body.

Phil, I was just thinking about ascetics, the truck may haul my Harley on occasion but that's about it. I'll have to play around with the location, I definitely want the extra brake light.

I really like Mike B’s bedrail lights, but the price….Ouch!

Craig -- Yesterday, I was reminded of just how idiotic a lot of drivers are on the road these days and I'm wondering if the third brake light actually does anything ... I had a guy right on my rear end so close, I couldn't see his grill or headlights. When I brake, the back of the van turns red (Ford E-series van that sits nice and high). I brake checked him but he didn't get the hint. I brake checked him a second time (harder) and he either finally noticed all the red lights or he noticed the trailer ball that sticks out a foot from the hitch under the bumper that was aimed right at his radiator.

I was bringing my dog's remains home from the vet and I *really* wasn't in a mood to be suffering idiots.

I think you could make the whole back end of your vehicle a huge brake light with the candle power of the sun and it wouldn't make much difference to these idiots.

“I think you could make the whole back end of your vehicle a huge brake light with the candle power of the sun and it wouldn't make much difference to these idiots.[/quote]”

Exactly

John, condolences on the loss of your buddy!

John I fully understand. Coastal Ga. is tourist country and most don't know how to drive or really care.

PS, I'm sorry for your loss, our dogs a like Children.

John Milliman, you're absolutely right.

When the NHTSA was doing studies to reduce rear end collisions, they looked at a number of different brake light combinations.

1. Regular red brake lights that flash when applied
2. Flashing amber lights in addition to normal static red brake lights
3. High mounted red light in addition to normal brake lights
4. High mounted amber light in addition to normal red brake lights
5. High mounted flashing amber light in addition to normal red brake lights
6. High mounted flashing red light in addition to normal red brake lights

There were probably other combos tested but you get the idea.

The study found that the color and placement of the brake lights was less important than a flashing light. The lights that were noticed more by test subjects were those that flashed regardless of color or placement on the vehicle.

It was also determined that the high placement, non-flashing light of either color became less noticeable over time whereas the flashing light of any color or height remained noticeable over time.

So, as usual, the Feds chose not to adopt the most successful light combination as the new mandate instead of one of the flashing styles that proved superior to the task.

Tut 59, as long as you are going to the trouble of installing a third brake light, I would strongly recommend you install one that flashes when the brakes are applied in order to get the most benefit and hopefully fulfill the job you are installing it for in the first place.

I’d check with local authorities before installing any flashing lights on any vehicle. Might get arrested for impersonating an officer. I’d guess a high traffic intersection full of flashing brake lights would get very distracting.
It’s illegal in many states to drive with 4-way flashers on because they are supposed to designate a parked vehicle in distress.

I don’t think I would make it flash, but I would make it really bright.

Flashing red (or blue for that matter) lights are illegal in most states. There are pulsating lights that might just sneak by the law.

That was my thoughts but not what the DOT/NHTSA guidelines are.

I believe that some high performance cars have brake lights that flash - but only on hard braking - they are solid red under normal braking.

May be only European models...

https://roadsumo.com/flashing-brake-lights/

Maybe pulsating is the word I should have used.

I've sen many new cars with pulsating brake lights as standard equipment. They flash for the first couple seconds and then remain static.

Otto Skorzeny Twinkle would be what I'd call those third brake lights,saw it first I think in California. It got your attention ! Found some big school bus lights that would maybe save you with a twinkler in it. Not sure yet where to find the mechanism for that,anyone got a source on it ??

Those third brake lights have a strobe module installed. They flash several times to get your attention, then go solid. Pretty neat idea. I would definitely consider adding one of those! Here is an example on YouTube. [LINK]

You can buy them on eBay, Amazon on many other vendors. Google “third brake light strobe”.

I think that is the ideal solution, that is if there is an actual solution to the problem (since it requires the person behind you to actually be looking ahead at the road).

A friend in Florida was rear ended in his 1935 Cadillac just a couple months after he finished restoration. He had a third brake light mounted on the license plate above the rear mount tire.

It made no difference, of course, since the nitwit that hit him was texting on her phone instead of looking at the brake lights.

I followed a vehicle just the other day that did that.

I think this would be the ideal solution. My main reason for adding a third brake light is the factory location of the taillights is so low. As John and most others have said drivers follow so closely that the taillights can't be see. I f the third brake light is installed at or above the line of sight then maybe... that is maybe they will see it.

At least you will feel like you did your best in protecting everybody riding in your truck! Now I’m considering adding one to my truck! They make ones that adhere to the inside of you back window so no bodywork is required.

https://www.amazon.com/Ceyes-Waterproof-Functions-Running-90cm-Universal/dp/B07MH52CMY?th=1

If you have a trailer hitch .the type that ha the removable receiver you could put one in the receiver .

That would make it lower. He’s trying to get it higher for more visibility.

I found this strobe module on Amazon. It flashes 3 times fast, 3 times slow and then turns solid. This may be the route I take.

https://www.amazon.com/iJDMTOY-GS-100A-Strobe-Controller-Clearance/dp/B00N44WLXS

Are you still going to add the third light?

Yes, the module is in addition to the light assembly. I want to make a bezel to inset the light into the back of the cab, I'm still thinking the beltline below the window will look the best.

If you mount it below the window your bike will block it when it's loaded in the bed, that's why I put mine in the bed side rail holes, they are higher, bright, they can't be obstructed by anything loaded in the bed AND I didn't have to cut a big hole in my cab...

Here's what they look like on my truck when on and off...they are so bright they look fuzzy in the picture.

Mike B

Savaannah Dog I see new LED lights on semmi trailers that come on quick as a wink ,they get your attention very well the instant the driver touches that pedal. High up mount at eye level of drivers behind is about as good as it gets.

phak 1 I suppose for us bolters who use an original interlock turn signal switch you would have to wire in ahead of the turn signal switch at the stop light switch. That should work fine with an LED high center stop light,it's all you can do for tail-gaters !!

I added third brake lights to both my 38 and 53. For the 38 I found a universal STOP light and put it on a stand to clear the bottom of the back glass with the brightest 6v bulb I could find. For the 53 I used an implement light that had a clear lens. I used stained glass paint to turn the lens red and used the 12v equivalent bulb of the one I used on the 38. Quite noticeable. I couldn't find a picture of the 38's light illuminated but you can see it below.

FYI about LED applications. For those of you that are still operating on 6 volts like myself, when it came time to rewire that part of my truck due to an electrical short, I was interested in an upgrade to 6 volt LED lights that I had seen advertised in the past. Of course when I went looking the 6 volt applications were no longer available! When I approached the various vendors, no one could tell my why the product had been discontinued. My dilemma was I knew that standard 6 volt bulbs were almost invisible on a sunny day. My son explained to me that LED bulbs don't really follow any voltage specs, but rather are based on the amperage available. Based on that, I did order the 12 volt versions and performed my own bench test. Yes when based on 12 volts the lights were much brighter than on 6 volts, but even on 6 the lights were much brighter than the standard incandescent bulbs. The lights were installed, needed to upgrade the flasher for the signals, and I am very happy with the results. YES, YOU CAN USE 12 VOLT LEDs IN A 6 VOLT SYSTEM!

Maybe look for a third brake light with a "bed light" incorporated in it... my 05 Silverado for instance, has that. It might be fairly easy to mount one to your cab.

That is not universally true for 12V LED bulbs. While it it true that LEDs function primarily by current, they also have a minimum threshold voltage below which they will not flow any current or light up at all.

Once you get above that voltage, the brightness is a function of the current (which is also a funxtion of the voltage drop). Inexpensive bulbs will often be just a series of LEDs with an inline resistor. The current becomes your vehicle voltage (13.5VDC for a 12V system) minus the sum of the threshold voltages for the leds (variable, though often around 10VDC) divided by the resistance of the inline resistor.

If the sum of the threshold voltages is below your vehicle voltage, you will get some light out of the LEDs. If not, yiu won't. It sounds like the ones you bought had a fairly low threshold voltage so it would function with a 6V system. That is not always the case though.

There exist bulbs that have a proper current driver system in them, but they are much, much, much more expensive. With those, the voltage doesn't matter (as long as it is high enough for the converter) because the controller is converting it to a current supply. The ones I am the most familiar with operate from 4.5VDC to 28VDC and are the same brightness at all voltages.