A split-second ahead

Let’s start with the good news: The number of road fatalities in Germany has been declining for decades – even though traffic volumes keep rising. According to the Federal Bureau of Statistics, more than 19,000 people lost their lives in road accidents in 1970. By 2024, that number had dropped to 2,770.

One small but highly effective component contributing to this positive trend is the third brake light, which became mandatory in new vehicles in 1998. Within fractions of a second, it clearly signals to drivers behind that the vehicle ahead is slowing down – directly at eye level. And the sooner speed can be adjusted, the better.

Did you know that the time between noticing a brake signal to actually hitting the brakes is around one second? At 50 km/h, a car covers roughly 15 metres in that time. So, if the electrics of the third brake light stop working due to moisture, dirt, corrosion, or simple age-related failure, it’s good to know there’s a reliable solution: AIC Germany has continuously expanded its range in recent years and now offers 23 third brake lights covering 1,758 applications – with still more to come.