Jail Time for Faulty Third Brake Lights?

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It might not be the first thing you think of when you hear jailable offences, but did you know faulty third brake lights can lead to some time behind bars?

It's true! Under Section 119(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for general offences and penalties, drivers that are found to have faulty or absent taillights are liable to a fine of up to RM2,000 and imprisonment of not more than six months if convicted. 

Tailights here do include the third brake light usually found centrally at the top or bottom your car's rear windshield. These third brake lights play an important role in road safety as it gives clear indication to drivers behind you that you are slowing down or coming to a stop. This importance is amplified in bad weather conditions such as heavy rain or fog where visibility is low and thus you will need all the help you can get in ensuring safety. Missing or faulty third brake lights will increase the likelihood that a car behind you might collide into you.

To ensure that your third brake lights are in order, you should perform a 'before operations check' where you get one of your passengers to visually verify that it lights up when you depress the brake pedal. If you're alone, you could set up a phone behind your car and record how the lights behave as you step on the brakes. 

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