[AmberPeacemaker]

During the horse wagon days, I wondered how in the world there isn't more wagons piled up because they had no brake lights.

I suspect that horse-and-buggy generally moved at a lot slower rate of speed, and there were two to four additional brains that would aid in not causing an accident. Horses, as it turns out, really dislike pain, and will do what they can to avoid the infliction of such, including avoiding smashing into another buggy or carriage.

Oh, fun fact, the first ICE automobile was invented in 1808 in Switzerland, and brake lights weren't introduced until 1915. But yeah, the argument "Well we didn't need it back then, why do we need it now?" is sure to win the debate. Well played o7

 

[AmberPeacemaker]

No one is saying brake lights are not needed. All we're sayinging is it doesn't take to see brake lights for you to know you need to slow down or stop.

It isn't required to see the brake lights for one to notice the lead vehicle's decel, but it does aid in reaction time before you react and hit your own brakes. Some studies suggest up to 500ms slower reaction speed with no lit brake lights, which at 60 mph is about 3 car lengths (47 feet). Doesn't sound like much, until you also factor in the vehicles stopping distance. Example: 2022 Ioniq 5 is rated for a stopping distance of 123 feet or roughly 8 car lengths. No brake light reaction time can thus crank it to 170ft which is about 12.5 car lengths. Those extra car lengths can be the difference between a stopping short, or overrunning into a crunch.

I feel that Dunning-Kruger Protocol is in effect here, so I'll leave it at that