Third Brake Light

Good going 29 spcoupe. Maybe I'll see you at the show in Rhinebeck on Sunday. My 29 Special coupe looks to be the same color as yours. Barry
 
Keep in mind a third brake light is referred to by the NTSB as a CHMSL device. That's Center High Mount Stop Lamp. The lamp needs to be above the sight line that may be blocked by the average height of other vehicle hoods and fenders.

The lamp must be no lower than the top line of a vehicle body, exclusive of the roof and pillars. The present rear-crash reduction from a properly mounted CHMSL is 4.3% according to the US NTSB. Mounting it at the center of a rear spare or bottom of a tailgate will not satisfy the 'high mount' criteria.

Regulation of CHMSL devices in CA, AU, NZ, and the EU is similar.
 
Then, does the 3rd light location on Jeeps qualify? They are generally mounted on top of the rear mounted spare tire.
 
Barry B./ Ma. said:
Good going 29 spcoupe. Maybe I'll see you at the show in Rhinebeck on Sunday. My 29 Special coupe looks to be the same color as yours. Barry
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I was hoping you would come to the Rhinebeck show. The cars do look the same and I look forward to meeting you. John
 
BILL WILLIAMSON said:
A friend has one in the spare & it's the GAS CAP for his trunk GAS TANK, also! Don't know how he hid the wires, but I hope they NEVER SPARK!!! That tail light might end up on the RIGHT COAST!!!!!!
Bill W.
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Bill,
Great to have you back! Humor is sometimes needed here.

Ted
 
CarlG said:
Then, does the 3rd light location on Jeeps qualify? They are generally mounted on top of the rear mounted spare tire.
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That would be above the hood or belt line height, so yes. If it were center mounted in the spare, no.
 
I did something similar with my rear turn signal. I used some old leather carriage straps giving it a very period look.
 

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AL in NY said:
Couldn't use the third taillight on my pickup. I mounted the LED third brake light under the tailgate. You don't notice it until you step on the brake.
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All of these third lights terrific, this led strip is super for brightness. It would wake up our mindless Florida drivers who don't seem to see a Model A until the last second.
 
I would think the NTSB requirement for third brakes lights would only apply to production vehicles from the last few decades. Since the Model A never had a third brake light the requirements wouldn't apply, just as seat belts are not required in vehicles that did not have them originally. A third brake light that is visible from the rear, regardless of location, would help get the attention of the driver behind you and increase safety.
 
MikeK said:
Keep in mind a third brake light is referred to by the NTSB as a CHMSL device. That's Center High Mount Stop Lamp. The lamp needs to be above the sight line that may be blocked by the average height of other vehicle hoods and fenders.

The lamp must be no lower than the top line of a vehicle body, exclusive of the roof and pillars. The present rear-crash reduction from a properly mounted CHMSL is 4.3% according to the US NTSB. Mounting it at the center of a rear spare or bottom of a tailgate will not satisfy the 'high mount' criteria.

Regulation of CHMSL devices in CA, AU, NZ, and the EU is similar.
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Don't let perfect be the enemy of good. Any extra light is a good thing.
 
eagle said:
Don't let perfect be the enemy of good. Any extra light is a good thing.
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Old car owners add third brake lights because they want the improved safety benefits, not because the law requires it. You can stick an extra light wherever you want but that does not necessarily make it a good thing. Adding distraction in the same visual horizontal plane that turn signals occupy may well increase incidence of collision.

Don't let ignorance serve as your excuse for a job that does not accomplish your desired goal, that being the same safety benefit modern cars get from the 3rd light.

When the dolt behind you with vision partially blocked by a cell phone or GPS does NOT see a high-mounted light come on you are gonna get whacked. Enjoy your low mounted 3rd lights! Mine will stay high-mounted as LED strips in the rear windows of my A's.
 
MikeK, I was not debating the NTSB statistics, or claiming to know better, so your last comment really wasn't necessary.

My comment was made because of phrases in your post like "needs to be", "must be" and "will not satisfy the 'high mount' criteria" might give someone the impression that if they wish to add a third brake light to their Model A it had to be according to new vehicle standards.

I fully agree that a third light in the approaching drivers line of sight would be the most effective, but if that's not possible, any additional light may be beneficial.

Skibb, unfortunately Florida is not the only place with mindless drivers. My last 4wd pickup was struck twice from behind and you really have to wonder how someone can miss a red half ton vehicle in daylight, but the first driver stated she never saw it. With over three decades in law enforcement, most of them as an accident investigator, and the last half dealing with criminal traffic matters, I have to say that most of the drivers that are around us everyday are not paying attention to what they are doing.
 
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