Zagreb
From mid-2026, all newly approved passenger cars and light commercial vehicles across the European Union, including Croatia, will be required to feature a new emergency brake warning light system designed to improve road safety and reduce rear-end collisions.
The regulation, reported this week by the Croatian Automobile Club (HAK), introduces an adaptive braking light that provides clearer visual warnings to drivers behind during sudden or heavy braking situations.
The aim is to alert other road users earlier and more effectively, particularly at higher speeds, where rear-end accidents are most likely to occur.
Under the current system, rear brake lights illuminate whenever a driver applies the brakes, regardless of the severity of deceleration. However, the new rules introduce a distinct visual signal during emergency braking.
When a vehicle decelerates sharply, typically from speeds above 50 km/h, the emergency braking system will activate.
In these situations, the rear brake lights will flash several times per second, clearly indicating intense braking and signalling an immediate hazard to following drivers.
If the vehicle comes to a complete stop after such strong deceleration, the hazard warning lights will automatically switch on, while the brake light remains illuminated.
This sequence is designed to provide continuous and unmistakable warning, especially on motorways and high-speed roads where sudden stops pose significant danger, HAK said.
The new regulation applies exclusively to newly approved passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles from 7 July 2026 onwards.
Existing vehicles already on the road will not be required to retrofit or upgrade their lighting systems.
This measure forms part of a broader European Union strategy aimed at improving road safety and reducing serious accidents across the continent.
