brake light issues

when i press my brakes when my lights are turned off, the normal rear lights engage, not the bright red lights that supposed to turn on. when i turn on my lights on, my rear lights do not turn on, turn signals flash fast. all fuses and bulbs checked out fine. a short may be evident? anything else could be the problem? help!

Sounds like a short somewhere. I'd check near the brake lights and trace the wires back to the brake pedal.