EU mandates emergency stop signal for new cars as Hungary police report widespread motorcyclist violations

From 7 July the European Union will require every newly‑produced passenger car to be equipped with an Emergency Stop Signal (ESS). The system flashes the rear brake lights and turn signals intensely during a sudden, strong braking action, giving following drivers an early visual warning and aiming to cut rear‑end crashes. The rule was adopted by EU regulators and backed by traffic‑safety experts such as Hungarian professor Attila Pető.

A nationwide police check in Hungary during the first week of June, carried out under the ROADPOL "2Wheelers" operation, found extensive non‑compliance among motorcyclists. Officers recorded 267 lighting violations, 134 riders without helmets, 53 offences related to registration‑plate tampering, and a total of 3,395 other traffic infractions, underscoring the vulnerability of two‑wheel users on the road.