Patent ID: 8081068

Claim:
A system of a vehicle for visually indicating to an observer external to the vehicle whether a seatbelt is disengaged, comprising: an electrical circuit within the vehicle, the electrical circuit further comprising: a Centre High Mount Stop Lamp (“CHMSL”) visible from the exterior of the vehicle, said CHMSL that indicates both braking status and seat belt engagement; a seatbelt switch being in an open position when the seatbelt is engaged and in a closed position when the seatbelt is disengaged; a brake switch being in a closed position when the brakes are applied and in an open position when the brakes are not applied; and a flasher causing the CHMSL to flash when the seatbelt switch is in the closed position and said seatbelt is not engaged and the brakes are not engaged; said circuit causing said CHMSL to be off when said seatbelt is engaged and said brakes are not engaged; and said circuit causing said CHMSL to become illuminated continuously when said brakes are engaged.