Center Brake Lights for Trucks, Vans Urged

The government on Thursday proposed that new light trucks and vans be equipped with center high-mounted rear brake lamps like those on cars, saying the lamps could prevent thousands of accidents and injuries each year.

The regulation proposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would require such lamps on all light trucks and vans by the 1993 model year, giving manufacturers time for design changes, Jerry R. Curry, agency administrator, said.

Cars with the light are involved in 17% fewer rear-end collisions that cars without it, Curry said.