Could installing brake lights on the front—and possibly the sides—of vehicles help drivers better anticipate other driver’s actions at intersections?
The idea stems from a familiar driving scenario. You’re stopped at an intersection with cross traffic approaching. The approaching car has its blinker on, but are they really going to turn? Do you wait for the car to turn, or assume the driver is turning and pull out in front?
It would be a whole lot safer if you could see the approaching car’s brake lights, but they can’t be seen since they are at the rear of the car. Older cars used to have a telltale front-end dip when braking, but modern cars are relatively smooth when braking. You’re left to guess—and guessing wrong can be dangerous.
To address this conundrum, researchers are testing the effectiveness of front-facing green brake lights in a series of simulations and experiments. They found that these lights helped other drivers recognize braking behavior more quickly—up to half a second faster. In practical terms, that translated to reduced impact speeds in simulated crashes: vehicles hit at about 18 mph instead of 28 mph, significantly lowering the likelihood of serious injuries.
While the idea shows promise, there are legal and regulatory hurdles. In the USA, federal standards currently prohibit green lights in the front. Only white and amber lights are allowed, and red is reserved for the rear. Changing these regulations would require updates to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, likely through action from agencies like NHTSA or new legislation. Even if approved, such changes would likely apply only to new vehicles, not the millions already on the road.
Researchers chose green because it’s a universally recognized signal for “go” and is distinct from red brake lights, avoiding confusion. Although this may seem counterintuitive—using green to indicate stopping—the team found that the distinct placement and function helped drivers interpret the signal correctly.
If implemented, green front brake lights could be a low-cost yet effective measure to reduce crashes and improve communication between drivers, especially at intersections where visibility and timing are critical.