What does it mean if a vehicle's brake lights are illuminated?

When a vehicle's brake lights are illuminated, it indicates that the driver is signaling their intention to slow down or come to a complete stop. Brake lights serve as an essential form of communication between drivers, alerting those behind that the vehicle is reducing speed. This is particularly important for maintaining safe distances and preventing accidents, especially in scenarios where a sudden stop may occur.

While some might think that illuminated brake lights could suggest acceleration, making a turn, or idling, those situations would typically not activate the brake lights. Accelerating generally engages the vehicle's headlights or may involve turn signals, rather than the brake lights. Similarly, making a turn usually requires the use of turn signals rather than the brake lights, as the vehicle may not necessarily be slowing down when turning. Finally, when a vehicle is idling, the brake lights are typically off unless the driver is also engaged in braking at that moment. Thus, the correct interpretation of illuminated brake lights is that the vehicle is indeed slowing down or stopping, serving as a critical alert for other drivers.