A vehicle lighting system, for use in automobiles or trucks has a tail lamp relay, connected so electrical current flows through the vehicle battery, a tail lamp, and the tail lamp relay when the relay is on; a tail lamp switch; a battery low voltage sensor; taillamp programming means; and means for sensing that the vehicle is in operation. The system also has control circuitry that turns on the relay in the first state when the vehicle is in operation and the tail lamp switch is on, or following the vehicle ceasing operation, the taillamp programming means is on, and the battery low voltage sensing means senses a high battery voltage, but where the relay is turned off when the vehicle is not in operation and either the taillamp programming means is off, the taillamp switch is off, or the battery low voltage sensing means senses a low battery voltage.