Brake Pad Indicator

[Merckx]

Can the Brake pad indicator light be trusted? The light on our 2001 Catera just went on today. The car has 49,000 miles on it;it's not used much. It passed state inspection(yearly here) about 4,000 miles. I know that if the brakes are iffy the car won't pass. So it doesn't make sense that the brakes would suddenly imply a worn condition 4,000 miles later. My 2001 Passat is still on it's orgional brakes at 85,000 miles,and i sold a 1992 Taurus still on it's factory brakes at 93,000 miles.

All of this makes me suspect a malfunctioning light,rather that worn brakes.
Opinions?

Thanks in advance...