This blog was created to help bring awareness to a major problem in highway safety. Heavy trucks do not illuminate their brake lights when they are slowing down using alternative braking methods, such as engine braking and downshifting. Thousands of car-striking-truck, rear-end accidents and car-striking-car, rear end accidents each year could be avoided if heavy trucks would illuminate their brake lights when using alternative braking methods. This reduction in accident rates will result in fewer highway deaths, reductions in insurance claims and ultimately, lower insurance costs.

Brake Lights on Heavy Trucks - Turn 'Em On!

John 8:12

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Let There Be Brake Lights

How do you slow down when you are driving? Do you step on the brake pedal? Probably. Most of us do. Do you know how truck drivers slow down? Most people think that truckers slow down like we do, by stepping on the brake pedal. This is not true. For the most part, truckers use their engine brakes, commonly referred to as "Jakes", or downshift to reduce the speed of their trucks.
What is the difference? All of these methods of braking cause the vehicle to slow down, right? While this is true, there is one major difference in the braking methods. Engine braking and downshifting do not turn on brake lights. "Why not?", you ask.
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