Do the taillights illuminate when the handbrake is engaged?
2 Answers
When the handbrake is engaged, the taillights do not illuminate. Only the brake indicator light on the dashboard lights up. When the foot brake is pressed, the brake lights will illuminate. Installation position of car taillights: Taillights alert vehicles behind of the presence of a car ahead during nighttime driving and indicate the positional relationship between the two vehicles, hence they are installed on both sides at the rear of the car. Design principles of car taillights: They must have sufficient luminous intensity so that the taillights can be clearly distinguished by drivers of other vehicles or pedestrians even in bright daylight. During nighttime driving, the light emitted by the taillights should not cause glare or discomfort to drivers of other vehicles or pedestrians.
I've been driving for fifteen years, and indeed, the tail lights don't illuminate when the handbrake is engaged. The handbrake is part of the parking brake system, which locks the rear wheels via cables and has no connection to the tail light circuit. Tail lights include position lights and brake lights, controlled by the light switch and brake pedal respectively. For example, when driving at night with the lights on, the red position lights stay lit, and the brighter brake lights activate only when the brake pedal is pressed. Once, my friend thought pulling the handbrake would light up the brake lights, but the car behind couldn't see his stopping signal at all. Note that the handbrake indicator on the dashboard will light up—a red or yellow 'P' symbol—specifically to alert the driver about the handbrake status. If you notice the tail lights lighting up when the handbrake is pulled, it's likely a fault with the brake switch or wiring, requiring prompt inspection.
