A forward thinking Welsh inventor has been looking back to improve road safety.

Checking whether the brake lights are working on a heavy goods vehicle isn’t easy for a truck driver especially when the back of the lorry may be 60feet from the cab.

But long distance lorry driver John Arundel  (above) has designed and developed Brakeaware – a simple solution enabling one person to carry out a visual check of brake light function.

 The device is fitted in the cab and connects to the brake light feed allowing the driver to activate the brake lights using a fob while standing behind the vehicle. The system is operated by remote control and can work from a 70m range.

 It comes in 24 volt for LGVs and PSVs and 12 volt for cars and vans. It has a built in safety feature and cannot be used when the keys are in the ignition.

 John, from Treharris, was supported by the Welsh Assembly Government’s Wales Innovators Network (WIN) during the initial development stage of Brakeaware and will be promoting the product at the British Invention Show 15-18 October at Alexandra Palace, London.

Branded the UK’s largest innovation expo it attracts around 150  inventors from around the world and Brakeaware will be promoted on the WIN stand.

John says he hopes to raise awareness of Brakeaware at the Show and promote sales.

“The support of the Wales Innovators Network has been invaluable – they have provided me with help, advice and support when I was developing Brakeaware and provided funding towards the website design and branding for the product.

“Developing a new product is very costly and the funding was particularly welcome

as our main sales are generated from the website.”

Although originally developed for heavy goods vehicles, the device is also being marketed for public service vehicles, cars and vans.

Once Brakeaware is fitted to a vehicle – an LGV tractor unit, PSV, car or van it will check all brake lights including anything being towed by that vehicle such as a trailer, caravan or horsebox.

It is a legal requirement and a condition of lorry drivers’ operating licences to carry out a daily walk around check of their vehicles but it can prove difficult for one person to check whether the brake lights are working.

“The cab can be 60 feet away from the rear of the vehicle so you cannot always see the reflection of the brake lights to check if they are working. This could prove to be a very serious and expensive problem,” he explained.