Brake responses of unsuspecting drivers to high-mounted brake lights.

This study evaluated brake responses of unsuspecting drivers to brake-signal presentations using a conventiounal brake-lamp system with and without supplemental high-mounted brake-lamp(s). The signals were presented during the daytime at speeds of 48-72 km/h. The main finding is that the signals given by the systems with one or two supplemental high-mounted brake lamps were more likely to produce a brake response by a following driver. On the other hand, the reaction times of the brake responses dit not vary between the systems. The implications of the findings as well as comparisons with other relevant studies are discussed.