Center brake lights on cars prevent at least 92,000 crashes and 58,000 injuries annually, according to a study released by the government's highway safety agency.
The third brake light is often mounted at the bottom center of the back windshield to create a triangle with the two lower brake lights located above the bumper. The center light sits closer to the eye level of the driver in the second car.It has been required safety equipment on cars since model year 1986 and on light trucks, such as pickups or sport utilities, since model year 1994.
The study released Monday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concluded that center brake lights reduce the number of rear impact crashes by 4.3 percent, preventing at least 92,000 crashes each year and 58,000 injuries.