What is the primary purpose of flashing your brake lights?

Flashing your brake lights serves primarily to warn drivers behind you that you are slowing down. This action provides a visual cue that alerts following motorists to prepare for a possible stop or deceleration, thereby helping to prevent rear-end collisions. When you use your brake lights in this way, it increases awareness among drivers, prompting them to pay closer attention to your vehicle's speed and movements.

In contrast, indicating a lane change and signaling for a right turn typically involves the use of turn signals, which inform others of your intent to change direction rather than your speed. While alerting pedestrians is important, it generally does not involve the use of brake lights; other signals or methods, such as hand signals or physical awareness, are more appropriate for interacting with pedestrians at crosswalks.