The red brake lights in a car refer to the twin light clusters in the back of your car. These lights are designed to make the road safe for all users. When used correctly, these lamps can save your life. It’s, therefore, important to confirm they’re working correctly.
You should note that car brake lights are there to warn other motorists that you’re about to slow down. As such, there’s a need to confirm that they’re operational. If they were to fail, the cars behind you might end up charging up to your vehicle’s bumper.
The safety brake lights thus ensure you don’t get rear-ended, which might be dangerous for occupants in both vehicles.
What Are Red Brake Lights?
Red brake lights are essential safety components on vehicles that signal when the driver is slowing down or stopping. Positioned at the rear of the car, these lights illuminate in a bright red color whenever the brake pedal is pressed. Red is universally recognized and used because it catches attention quickly and signifies a warning or stop, helping prevent rear-end collisions.
The other reason red is mainly used for car safety lighting is because the red light is the least scattered by air molecules. This makes it possible for the light to travel the longest distance through rain and fog. It’s what makes it best for use with a brake light function.
How Do Red Brake Lights Work?
Red brake lights are connected to the vehicle's braking system. When the driver presses the brake pedal, it activates a switch known as the brake light switch. This switch sends an electrical signal to the brake lights, causing them to illuminate. The process is instantaneous, providing immediate feedback to drivers behind, alerting them to reduce speed or stop. Modern vehicles may also have advanced features like LED brake lights, which offer brighter illumination and quicker response times than traditional incandescent bulbs.
Importance of Properly Functioning Red Brake Lights
Brake lights are vital to efficient communication on the road. They provide the drivers behind you with a warning about your change of movement or speed. Having faulty brake lights means the motorists behind you won’t know when you’re about to slow down or stop.
Sometimes, this doesn’t happen until it’s too late. That’s why there are strict laws designed to govern brake light safety and use on all roads. For example, the federal legal brake light requirements are that the third brake light must be steadily burning when the vehicle is in use.
Common Issues with Red Brake Lights
You may experience brake light problems for several reasons, such as:
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Electrical Issues: Problems with the vehicle's electrical system can prevent the brake lights from functioning properly.
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Burnt Bulbs: The most common issue is where the brake light bulbs have burned out and need replacement.
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Damaged Wiring: Corroded or frayed wiring can disrupt the electrical flow, causing the brake lights to fail.
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Blown Out Fuse: A blown fuse in the brake light circuit can cause the lights to stop working.
- Faulty Switches: A malfunctioning brake light switch can prevent the brake lights from illuminating when the brake pedal is pressed.
If you experience car lighting issues and aren’t sure of what’s causing them, you may want to look into how to troubleshoot them. If unsure of how to get started, try the following brake light troubleshooting tips:
1. Inspect the bulbs to confirm whether the filament is broken or the lights blackened
2. Look at the brake light switch to confirm that it’s completing the circuit.
3. Inspect the wiring. For this, you may need to check for visible damage, e.g., frayed wires
4. Locate the fuse box and have it replaced if it’s blown
5. Confirm that the ground connections are corrosion-free and properly secured
6. Seek professional assistance if all else fails
How to Choose the Right Red Brake Light Bulbs?
Finding the best brake light bulbs for your vehicle is not always an easy task. First, you’ll need to check them regularly to confirm that they’re indeed working as they should. If you do notice a problem, know that it’s now time to undertake car lighting upgrades.
When undertaking the upgrades, it’s best to do the following:
• Use the details provided in your car’s manual
• Ensure both lights get replaced at once
• Make sure to confirm the life hours rating before buying
• Go for a trusted brand
• Remember that LED bulbs are better than halogens
When conducting your research into these bulbs, it will be important to remember that LED brake light bulbs are the best. There are several reasons for this:
I. They’re instantaneous, making them safer
II. LEDs last longer
III. They’re durable
IV. LEDs are brighter
V. They’re easy to install
Installation Tips for Red Brake Lights
At some point, one or both of your brake lights will go out, necessitating a replacement. While the best course of action is to visit a garage, you can perform a replacement yourself once you're armed with DIY brake light replacement tips.
But before you can begin the brake light installation process, you’ll need to gather a few tools. These will include the following:
• Replacement LED light bulb (make sure it’s specific to your vehicle model)
• Bulb grease
• Screwdriver
• Ratchet
• Gloves
• Safety goggles
Once you have assembled these tools, use the following tips as a guide on how to install brake lights:
1. Open the tailgate or trunk of your vehicle
2. Locate and remove the affected bulb
3. Replace the blown-out bulb with a new LED one
4. Reattach the brake light assembly and test to see if it’s working
Conclusion
The red brake lights play a crucial role in ensuring road safety. Undertaking regular brake light maintenance helps improve visibility in bad climatic conditions, preventing rear-end collisions and meeting legal driving requirements.
As a motorist, there’s a need to perform a brake light check every once in a while, particularly when planning a long drive. Learning to do this as part of adhering to car safety tips can go a long way in saving your life and that of other motorists.
Buy Red Brake Lights from Underground Lighting
We are a family-owned and operated business based in South Florida that has over ten years of experience in the auto industry. Our company is dedicated to developing top-quality lighting products for customers looking to buy red brake lights. Since its inception, we have remained committed to providing the best service possible. This has seen us become a trusted brand in the auto world and among motorists looking to make a brake light upgrade.
You can trust our lighting team to meet your needs, no matter whether you’re looking to customize your vehicle’s appearance or increase visibility with LED bulbs. Our professionals will guide you on how to shop brake lights.
To learn more about how to ensure your safety on the road with the best red brake lights, visit Underground Lighting today and browse through our collection of LED bulbs.