Different high-visibility options to the standard warning triangle are urgently needed to warn other road users of broken-downs vehicle to help reduce the risk of accidents.

The Be-Seen Screen is designed as a straightforward and affordable alternative to the warning triangle that can improve visibility and provide vital extra seconds of awareness

Road safety champion and entrepreneur Richard Edwards says that other European countries have acknowledged the risks involved with people using warning triangles after a vehicle breakdown on busy roads.

In Spain, flashing emergency lights+ are now replacing warning triangles to help reduce accidents involving drivers following vehicle breakdowns. A new law came into effect in July 2021, allowing new V-16 emergency lights with geo-location to replace warning triangles by 2026. The change was introduced after it was reported that 28 people were run over and died while putting out the triangles in 2019 and 2020.

Edwards continues: “In Spain they now acknowledge that people are putting themselves at risk by using warning triangles after a vehicle breakdown. In due time I’m sure other European countries will follow. As far as I am aware we don’t have reliable figures for how many people are injured or even killed in the UK while putting out warning triangles, but they certainly aren’t a safe or realistic option for today’s road conditions.

“While the move in Spain might provide a partial solution, most vehicles already have flashing hazard warning tail-lights. Adding another flashing light will do little to improve visibility, although when geo-location is mandatory in 2026 this will help to raise awareness of a breakdown for other road users but not its exact location. Importantly, there isn’t any standardisation and because an energy source is needed, these devices might not be reliable.”

The risk is even higher with the switch to smart motorways in the UK – emergency refuges can be located too far apart for many drivers to reach them safely.

Edwards’ solution is the Be-Seen Screen, designed as a straightforward and affordable alternative to the warning triangle that can improve visibility and provide vital extra seconds of awareness to help prevent serious accidents.

It provides a bright, reflective warning sign in moments and is said to have the same reflectivity as emergency vehicles, day or night, to make other motorists aware of a breakdown.

It’s fixed to the rear windscreen or boot of a vehicle with powerful suction pads, clearly displaying the distinctive chevrons and ‘broken down’ message. It has been tested in extreme conditions, no power is needed, and there aren’t any moving parts, so it’s a robust and reliable option for cars, vans, caravans and HGVs.

The product is fully endorsed by a former senior policing area commander of Thames Valley Police, who sees it as a ground-breaking innovation in the effort to save lives. He says: “As technology has changed with smart motorways, for example, the way all drivers of motor vehicles react to breakdowns also needs to change. This safety product, with the ability to deploy so quickly, will support them in doing so.”