Final answer:
Any time you brake, your brake lights come on to alert drivers behind you. They are an essential safety feature that helps in maintaining safe distances between vehicles.
Step-by-step explanation:
Any time you brake, your brake lights come on to communicate with the drivers behind that they need to slow down to maintain a safe distance. The brake lights are a crucial safety feature on every vehicle that indicates to other drivers that a car is slowing down or coming to a stop. They are distinctly different from turn signals, hazard lights, or headlights, all of which serve their own specific functions. Turn signals indicate a directional change, hazard lights signal a need for caution or a stationary vehicle, and headlights are used to illuminate the road ahead and make a vehicle visible at night or during poor weather conditions.