It's not just the emissions that you have to keep an eye on, now there are completely new rules for passenger car brake lights in the rear lights.
Over the course of this summer, several new rules have entered into force for passenger cars in the EU. The most well-known is probably the now mandatory speed limiter, but the brake lights in the rear lights have also been redesigned.
In any case, the set of rules that the brake light in the rear lights must now comply with has been changed. Similar to the speed limiter, the rule came into effect on July 7 this year.
This means that all cars manufactured for that date do not have to comply with the regulations. However, the reverse is the case after the cut-off date.
The rule means that all new cars since 7 July 2024 have been equipped with a so-called emergency brake signal. This means that the rear lights must flash in a very specific way when the car brakes hard enough.
READ ALSO: This is how much it costs to cover 100 kilometers in an electric car
This is stated by the German Ministry for Digitization and Transport.
The new emergency brake signal in the rear lights should make it easier for traffic from behind to see when a fellow road user further ahead brakes hard. Several cars already have similar systems, but it is not for now that it becomes a requirement for all new cars in all EU member states.
According to the German association of car manufacturers VDA, which otherwise demands petrol and diesel based on crude oil to be banned, 17 percent of all traffic accidents with fatalities and injuries occur in connection with rear-end collisions. This is one of the reasons for the new EU requirement.
There are plenty of new rules. It's just not always that it can be implemented on time. Earlier this year, the Danish Transport Agency postponed a requirement for all inspection halls and inspection of cars in Denmark. But now it should be in place from 1 January 2025. Read more about it here .
Read more exciting news from and about the world of cars right here!