Flashing Break Lights

[c-los]

I researched the California law and couldn't find any law that fit exactly what we are talking about here...but there could be, any lawyers or cops in the house? Well, what I did find is this:

Cal Veh Code § 24603 (g) (2005)

§ 24603. Stoplamp requirements
(g) Any vehicle may be equipped with supplemental stoplamps mounted to the rear of the rearmost portion of the driver's seat in its rearmost position in addition to the lamps required to be mounted on the rear of the vehicle. Supplemental stoplamps installed after January 1, 1979, shall be red in color and mounted not lower than 15 inches above the roadway. The supplemental stoplamp on that side of a vehicle toward which a turn will be made may flash as part of the supplemental turn signal lamp.

A supplemental stoplamp may be mounted inside the rear window of a vehicle, if it is mounted at the centerline of the vehicle and is constructed and mounted so as to prevent any light, other than a monitorial indicator emitted from the device, either direct or reflected, from being visible to the driver.

[DustyJacket]

Actually, the laws you want relate to general vehicle lighting - flashing ligts, and/or emergency vehicle equipment.

Depends on the city/state.

[racerxXx]

Maybe they made use of LEDs. those are pretty flashy lights. i think they're great but to some, I dont think so.

[ZooTech]

Flashing Break Lights

What's a flashing "break" light? Is that how union workers know when it's lunch time?

[jbob286]

I remember last year (before I was interested in motorcycling) I was driving behind a bike with a flashing LED brake light. I didn't know wtf he was doing but I just slowed down. Then it stayed on and I slowed some more. I guess it accomplished its goal by getting my attention, but I would have noticed a solid state light and would have slowed down just as quickly, if not faster.

I guess it might catch the inattentive drivers eye

[oldnslo]

The Hyperlights Lion Lady mentions have been available for years. I installed them on a BMW I had, and was told they did a better job of drawing attention to my brake lights from those behind.
I seriously doubt they are illegal anywhere. Since Hyperlight, there have been many imitators.

[Neddog]

I think it would be difficult to make flashing brake lights illegal, as defensive drivers have been manually flashing their brake lights before braking for as long as I've been around. So how is an autmatically flashing brake light any different?

As far as their effectiveness, they are VERY effective, from the standpoint of anybody behind one. A much better accessory than headlight modulators, IMHO.