Well, then there is a very easy method to get a flashing red light followed by a solid red:
You use two 555 timers which are OR connected to the gate of the FET that drives the brake light or LED. In other words, either 555 can turn it on. Set up one 555 as a free running astabe at some pulse frequency and set the other up as a one shot with an inverter so it drives the LED on solid after the time duration elapses.
When you apply power, the astable will pulse the LED. After the other 555 times out, it turns it on steady.
I built this for my motorcycle a while back (which is how I found out they are illegal here). I don't know any easy way to get two different flash rates in a row followed by a solid red.