Methods, systems, and apparatus for automatically activating brake lights for a vehicle. The system includes a brake pedal sensor for detecting whether a brake pedal is engaged. The system includes an accelerometer configured to detect whether the vehicle is decelerating and a magnitude of deceleration. The system includes an ECU configured to determine whether the magnitude of deceleration exceeds a deceleration threshold when deceleration of the vehicle is detected and when the brake pedal is not engaged. The system includes a brake light configured to be activated when the brake pedal is engaged or when the ECU determines the magnitude of deceleration exceeds the deceleration threshold when deceleration of the vehicle is detected and when the brake pedal is not engaged.