NOTHING FANCY --
I think that the mult-level brake light is cost-prohibitive. People would rather get a cheaper car and take the risk of getting rear-ended, than worry about another whole set of lights. Not too mention the new complication for automakers.I think the cheapest thing to do is to just add another light for when the driver presses the accelerater with his/her foot. When I can see that the people in front of me are not accelerating, that gives me the first warning that traffic is coasting (i.e. gradually slowing). I mean, we have day time running lights already, right?
I would propose that the lights should be green, and I know that could maybe be confused with the traffic lights, but not that confusing. I think that green is so universally known to mean "go" that the psychological conditioning to that color would be useful. Think about the times when you are at a light, waiting in a line of cars. The people in front of you don't see that the light is turned to green. Cars 1 through 3 accelerate, and car 4, seeing that the car in front of them has a green light, now is reminded (apparently red lights turning off aren't enough for some people) to accelerate.
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Manual transmissions could be a problem, since you have your foot on the accelerator when stopped on a hill. Other than that, this is a great idea. Why not... make one universal set of lights on the back of the car that change color based on how fast you're accelerating/decelerating? Maybe have a green and a red bulb in each light, with a dimmer that switches between the two. A tap of the brakes would result in a dim red flash, while slamming on the brakes would turn the lights bright red. The same effect would happen when you accelerate, but with a green light.
A manual transmission vehicle on a hill doesn't usually sit on their accelerator and clutch to keep the vehicle at a stop (at least, I don't). I think any complication of this device ruins it. People don't want to pay a lot for it; neither the manufacturer nor the consumer.
A manual transmission car sitting still at traffic lights on a hill shouldn't have it's brake lights on either (perhaps UK only?) The handbrake should be engaged, with the car out of gear and the clutch not depressed. When the lights are about to change, you depress the clutch and engage gear.
These lights are legal in Oregon. Look at ORS 816.160 "Rear mounted lighting system". (Scroll down to 816.160).