Bonn/Berlin:
In the 2024 light test, one in four cars (25.3%) had lighting defects (previous year 27.4%). For commercial vehicles it was 33.1% (previous year 33.6%). This is the result of the current statistics from the Central Association of the German Motor Vehicle Trade (ZDK) and the German Traffic Watch (DVW).
“The fact that a third of commercial vehicles and a quarter of cars are still on our roads with defective lighting is avoidable,” says ZDK President Arne Joswig. “The security risk in the dark season increases unnecessarily. Therefore, all drivers are called upon to check their vehicle lights regularly, especially now in autumn and winter, and to have defects corrected as soon as possible. The current defect statistics make it clear how important the light test remains even in times of modern lighting systems.”
Kirsten Lühmann, President of the German Traffic Watch, adds: “The statistics show how important vision and visibility are for road safety. A third of commercial vehicles with defective lighting is alarming and preventable. The light test therefore remains an indispensable tool to increase safety on our roads – especially in the dark season, where regular checks of vehicle lighting are crucial.”
In October, a total of around four million vehicles came to car dealerships and workshops as well as to testing organizations to have their vehicle lighting checked.
In passenger cars, 16.8% of the main headlights were not in order (previous year 18.7%). The proportion of blinders with headlights set too high was 8.2% (previous year 8.5%). Headlights that were set too low, with a range that was too short and limited illumination of the road were criticized in 7.4% of cases (previous year 7.7%). When it came to rear lighting, 7.8% of cars had defects (previous year: 10.2%).
There were defects in the main headlights of 22.9% of commercial vehicles (previous year 28%). Headlights that were set too high and caused a dazzling effect on oncoming traffic were found in 14.9% of the commercial vehicles examined (previous year: 12.4%). Reduced visibility due to the setting being too low was the case in 6.9% (previous year 10.8%). The lights at the rear of 19.5% of commercial vehicles were not fully functional (previous year 11.5%).
The light test has been around since 1956, organized jointly by ZDK and DVW. The patron is the Federal Minister of Transport. This year’s partners are Volkswagen, Osram, Nürnberger Versicherung, Auto Bild and Hella Gutmann.
Contact
| Newsroom: |  |
| Press contact: | Ulrich Köster ZDK press spokesman Tel.: 0228/ 91 27 270 Email: [email protected] |
Sources
The large online database for press information in text, images, audio and video. Press releases and press material on a wide range of topics. A service from news aktuell from the dpa group of companies. Website: www.presseportal.de
