Further research – studies and trials

The need to empirically test these assumptions and to continue the scientific approach for the front brake light resulted in a further study and test in real traffic, with very positive results, with a view to preventing and improving road safety.

Read more

Preventing left-turn accidents with oncoming motorcycles (accident analysis study)

In 2021, a request was made for an expert report in the field of crash analysis , regarding front brake lights, to investigate the prevention of crashes in which a left-turning vehicle strikes (and in most cases kills) an oncoming motorcyclist.

The study showed that three out of four such accidents could have been avoided if the oncoming motorcyclist had recognised the behaviour of the left-turning vehicle a little earlier. Being able to recognize the left-turning vehicle's intent and movement the moment it begins to block the motorcyclist's direction of travel can help buy valuable time to execute a braking maneuver to save one's own life.

Side study - special influence on children's behaviour

In a secondary study, the effect of a front brake light on children's level of confidence to cross the road was investigated using a video simulation. The results suggest that the front brake light would not be perceived by children as an immediate call to action to cross the road, but rather as additional information if the crossing was safe. The same is true for adults.

Test in real traffic in the Trenčín region in Slovakia

A big test followed in the Trenčín region of Slovakia. For the first time a front brake light was used in public traffic!

  • More than 3000 vehicles equipped with FBL in Trencin, Partizánske and Žilina
  • Start of testing in November 2022
  • Combined with a small survey of FBL drivers' expectations in advance (239 questionnaires in "T1").
  • A large-scale survey (September/October 2023) ("T2") conducted towards the end of the test period:

1/ More than 2,000 drivers with a FBL -equipped vehicle were surveyed on their experience and attitude towards FBL
2/ More than 600 other road users took part in the survey by means of a questionnaire in which they also expressed their attitudes and experiences with FBL
3/ This will be followed by an analysis of actual accident data from police and insurance companies

In these figures and results, much more scientific analysis is presented than is usually presented in projects in the field of traffic safety and traffic psychology.

Next research

Legal framework/next steps for implementation