Germany mandates adaptive brake lights and bans radar‑warning apps

The European Union introduced a new vehicle‑safety regulation that takes effect on 7 July 2026. All newly registered passenger cars in the EU must be equipped with an adaptive brake light that flashes during a full stop at speeds above 50 km/h, a feature shown to cut driver reaction times by up to 0.2 seconds and reduce braking distances by about 5.5 metres at 100 km/h. The rule, announced by the German Federal Ministry of Transport, also makes other driver‑assistance systems compulsory, including automatic emergency braking, lane‑keeping assistance, driver‑attention monitoring and intelligent speed control.

In Germany, the use of radar‑warning ("blitzer") apps while driving is already prohibited under § 23 (1 c) of the Road Traffic Regulations. Police may inspect a driver’s phone during a traffic stop and seize devices that display or emit speed‑camera warnings. Violations can result in fines and other penalties, as clarified by the ADAC and legal experts.