If you search the archives of this and other Euro car sites looking information about our brake switches, there is universal agreement that the switches available today are totally unreliable. Personally, I have replaced them after anywhere from a few days to a year.
Driving as I do in heavy traffic, when the brake lights quit it can mean a disaster, so after the last replacement, I installed a little red LED inside, wired to the open contact of the switch. When the brake lights come on, it lights up. It worked well but I noticed that it required a lot of pedal pressure to make the switch operate.
One of the British sites led me to the US distributor of a Universal Low Pressure Brake Switch at a price comparable to the regular item. I fitted one today and am delighted to report that even slight pedal pressure operates the lights!
Of course, like everything, it is made in China, and may not last any longer, but at least following vehicles will know I am slowing down.
I got mine on E bay with the "Pigtail Adaptor" from Firststone Auto Parts.