Why do the brake lights flash?

[Phooey]

What does it mean when the brake lights flash like on the gen2 997 turbo in this clip - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkWsafjJTMk

It's not the first time i have seen a gen2 with flashing brake lights

[Martian O]

It's only because of the camera shutter speed, your eye wouldn't actually recognise the flashing in real life.

[Phooey]

Martian O said:

It's only because of the camera shutter speed, your eye wouldn't actually recognise the flashing in real life.

Well bugger me. I would of never of thought that.

[Martian O]

Saying that, I think it's more to do with the frame recording speed. The naked eye wouldn't recognise the LED's flashing but a fast frame/shutter speed would pick this up.

Something like that anyway!

[mr pg]

I thought this was new feature to indicate braking hard?

[Diablos-666]

mr pg said:

I thought this was new feature to indicate braking hard?

+1 so did I.

[nsm3]

I'm not sure that is the reason for the video flashing though - on some videos you can see the rear lights flashing left/right at high speed?

I am with Martians explanation and the LED frequencies are out of sinc with the recording equipment?

@ mr pg and diablo

Edited by nsm3 on Tuesday 21st December 08:20

[wildman0609]

mr pg said:

I thought this was new feature to indicate braking hard?

some new cars have ebd (electronic brake force distribution) and it does make the brake lights flash but slower than in this video and you wouldn't make it come on at traffic light because you have to absolutely stand on the pedal to make it come on. its an emergency system where the car takes over and brakes for you.

[VR6time]

They do it when car is under heavy braking to alert cars behind to the urgency. It was explained to me by the consultant guy at Silverstone when I went for my drive.

[VR6time]

Ah right cool. I cant view the clip at work so was guessing about the rate of flash.

Sorry for any confusion.

[thegoose]

I don't think any cars have flashing brakelights - yet. However, even as far back as the BMW E46 3 series 2003 facelift the tail-lights are LED and have an extra set round the edge (kind of like a pair of brackets - ( ) ) that are unused, but were fitted to the cars for later upgrade when there is a Euro approval for how they should behave and under what conditions, allowing the car to be updated later on.

[bcnrml]

thegoose said:

I don't think any cars have flashing brakelights - yet.

Actually, I believe some Mercedes models have them, and if so, many more will from 2011.

[Vipers]

Phooey said:

What does it mean when the brake lights flash like on the gen2 997 turbo in this clip - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkWsafjJTMk

It's not the first time i have seen a gen2 with flashing brake lights

Should put the bloody handbrake on really.

[lindsayhbrown]

The pork was stationary so couldn't be braking hard, is it anything to do with launch control ?