Tail lamp query

[LEN_LEEB@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

     Gary wrote:
     ...In talking to the Mercedes rep about the incident, he is reporting 
     to her that there is a way, within either the taillamp or the bulb, to
     determine if the brakes were actually applied at the time of impact.
     
     The only thing I can think of to indicate if the brakes were on is to 
     look at the bulb, and see if the filament is burned out. This would 
     only tell you anything if the bulb is broken, since the filament will 
     burn up in air, but not in the Nitrogen gas (?) the bulb is filled 
     with. If the bulb's filament is melted, AND the bulb is broken, that 
     would indicate that the bulb was lit at the time of the breakage. If 
     this is the brake filament, then the brakes were on. If not, argue 
     that the brake light switch was defective!
     Len
     Santa Rosa, CA USA

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