For several months, a European regulation has imposed a new type of brake light in all new vehicles. A safety device that should inform drivers of emergency situations and limit the accidents that result from them.
On the highway or in the city, sudden braking can sometimes cause dangerous pile-ups. In these situations, reacting in time is essential to avoid the worst. This is where a new device comes into play: emergency brake lights, now mandatory on new cars since July 7, 2024.
What do these lights really change compared to traditional brake lights? Until now, when a driver pressed the brake pedal, the three red lights at the rear of the vehicle came on simultaneously, signaling slowdown. This system works very well for moderate braking. However, in the case of sudden and very hard braking, it is difficult for drivers behind to distinguish in time the intensity of the braking of the vehicle in front of them. A confusion that, on a congested road, can quickly lead to a collision.
To address this problem, the new European GSR2 regulation requires the installation of emergency brake lights on all new vehicles. These lights have a special feature: they are triggered automatically when the car brakes suddenly, i.e. at a speed above 50 km/h, or when the ABS system, which prevents the wheels from locking, is activated. The visual signal is immediate and more obvious: the brake lights start flashing or the hazard lights come on, thus instantly alerting other drivers that emergency braking is in progress.
You may have already seen this device on some recent cars. It is already present on several models, but its use will become mandatory for all new cars from the summer of 2024. This change is directly inspired by worrying statistics: nearly 17% of serious accidents involve rear-end collisions. By improving the visibility of emergency braking, the authorities hope to significantly reduce these figures.
If you own an older car, don’t worry: the new obligation does not apply to vehicles already on the road. It only concerns new cars produced from this date. However, if you are considering purchasing a new vehicle, this detail could be an element to take into account to improve your safety on the road.
Thanks to this small innovation, daily journeys are becoming safer. Better signalled braking means more time to react, and potentially, an accident avoided. The roads will never be completely free of risks, but this new system is a step further towards more peaceful driving for everyone.