Systems and Methods for Operation of a Brake Light

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause performance of a set of acts for use in connection with a following vehicle and a leading vehicle, wherein the following vehicle comprises a front end, a rear end, a computing system, and a brake light disposed at the rear end, wherein the leading vehicle comprises a rear end and a bumper disposed at the rear end of the leading vehicle, and wherein the front end of the following vehicle is oriented towards the rear end of the leading vehicle, the set of acts comprising:

• determining, by the computing system at a first time, a first height of the bumper, wherein the first height of the bumper is defined by a vertical component of a distance between (i) a portion of an edge of the bumper as positioned at the first time and (ii) a plane defined by a surface of the road on which the leading and following vehicles are disposed;
• determining, by the computing system at a second time that is later than the first time, a second height of the bumper, wherein the second height of the bumper is defined by a vertical component of a distance between (i) the portion of an edge of the bumper as positioned at the second time and (ii) the plane defined by the surface of the road on which the leading and following vehicles are disposed;
• making, by the computing system, a determination that the determined first height and the determined second height lack a threshold extent of similarity based on an established tolerance level;
• and
• responsive at least to making the determination that the determined first height and the determined second height lack the threshold extent of similarity based on the established tolerance level, causing, by the computing system, the brake light to emit light.

A following vehicle comprising:

• a front end;
• a rear end;
• a computing system;
• and
• a brake light disposed at the rear end, wherein the front end is oriented towards a rear end of a leading vehicle, wherein the leading vehicle comprises a rear end and a bumper disposed at the rear end of the leading vehicle, and wherein the computing system is configured for performing a set of acts comprising:
• determining, by the computing system at a first time, a first height of the bumper, wherein the first height of the bumper is defined by a vertical component of a distance between (i) a portion of an edge of the bumper as positioned at the first time and (ii) a plane defined by a surface of the road on which the leading and following vehicles are disposed;
• determining, by the computing system at a second time that is later than the first time, a second height of the bumper, wherein the second height of the bumper is defined by a vertical component of a distance between (i) the portion of an edge of the bumper as positioned at the second time and (ii) the plane defined by the surface of the road on which the leading and following vehicles are disposed;
• making, by the computing system, a determination that the determined first height and the determined second height lack a threshold extent of similarity based on an established tolerance level;
• and
• responsive at least to making the determination that the determined first height and the determined second height lack the threshold extent of similarity based on the established tolerance level, causing, by the computing system, the brake light to emit light.