I drove a manual with a 4.6l v8 as my daily driver for 8-10 years. After taking a motorcycle safety course (in which they teach applying the brake to trigger t

I drove a manual with a 4.6l v8 as my daily driver for 8-10 years. After taking a motorcycle safety course (in which they teach applying the brake to trigger the lights when engine braking to alert cars behind you ) I did some anecdotal testing / started triggering the brake lights when engine braking in the car. While not effective for everyone behind me, triggering the brake lights did seem to increase the distance people began to slow at, and also their following distance increased. I was once rear ended, while I was completely stopped, with a train going by in front of me. Since it was a flat level surface I had let me foot off the brake. I do wonder if I had still had the brake applied if the person would have noticed. (However, this is a poor example as the driver who rear ended me was an unlicensed 16 year old driving illegally ). While on my motorcycle, I try to always trigger my brake lights. I will trigger them rapidly in scenarios where I have sufficient stopping distance but I would be doing a more aggressive stop in a car as the flashing does seem to get more attention.