The cost of rear-end collisions in Denmark and the potential savings from a high, center-mounted auxiliary brake light

The objective of this study was to determine the cost of rear-end collisions in Denmark, and to define the potential financial benefits of a high, center-mounted auxiliary brake light for automobiles. The study was limited to passenger cars struck from behind. The annual cost of two different preventive programs involving auxiliary brake lights was compared to the annual cost of the accidents expected to be prevented in each program. The finding was that rear-end collisions cost on average over 13,700 1980 Danish kroner (approx. US$2300), 70% of which was property damage. There are so many rear-end collisions that even if the new brake-light configuration were only one-third as effective in Denmark as it has been in U.S. field trials the mounting of required auxiliary lights would be a sound investment. Substantial savings would be anticipated whether the auxiliary brake lights were required on all passenger cars as of a particular date, or only on newly registered passenger cars, although the former preventive program is preferable by usual cost benefit criteria.Ronald L. Somers and Anni Hanse