No one plans on getting into a car accident, but they still happen every day. Millions of accidents occur in the U.S. each year, and thousands of deaths and injuries result. Rear-end collisions make up a significant portion of these accidents—37%, in fact. You might think that your standard brake lights will do enough to warn the driver behind you that you’re slowing down—but do they?

What’s Wrong with Standard Brake Lights?

There’s nothing inherently wrong with standard brake lights. They are an essential safety feature in every car, but unfortunately, they just don’t do enough. Consider how often you drive the same route every week. You probably find yourself driving that route automatically, and your attention to your surroundings will probably slip a little. It’s a normal response to seeing the same area frequently. But when this happens, your reaction time can slow down. Similarly, if the driver following your car isn’t paying enough attention, he or she might not notice your brake lights right away. The few extra seconds it takes that driver to respond by slowing down can make the difference between getting into an accident and avoiding one.

What Can Be Done to Improve Brake Light Effectiveness?

In order to improve the reaction time of the driver behind your car, you need a way to instantly capture that person’s attention when you apply your brakes. The solution is a third brake light that emits a pulsing light. Pulsing brake lights have been proven in numerous manufacturer and DOT studies to enhance driver reaction time, which can prevent rear-end collisions.

Auto dealers around the country are proud to offer pulsing third brake lights to safety-minded car buyers. Look for Pulse Protects products for your vehicle to protect what is most important in life: your family. You can also have your current vehicle retroactively fitted with Pulse—it’s compatible with all makes and models of cars manufactured after 1991.