COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF EXTRA BRAKE LIGHTS

The aim of the investigation was to clarify the economics of introducing window-mounted extra brake lights on passenger cars. The parameters used were price of lights, reduction in the number of accidents, private and socio-economic accident costs, discounted rate, and how the regulation should be implemented: (1) all passenger cars at one time or, (2) new-registered passenger cars. The expected development was considered of the vehicle stock and rear-end collisions during a 20-year payback period and also the real costs of rear-end collisions. Extra brake lights are a profitable measure if they reduce the costs of rear-end collisions by 15, 11, 7 and 13% in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden respectively. Taking an accident cost reduction of 20% for rear-end collisions and a discount rate of 6%, the investment is repaid in 12, 8, 5 and 10 years respectively in the countries referred to. The most economically-sound of the above measures is alternative 2. One light is more economical than two lights. The Swedish version of this report is research note 658. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9513829332
• Corporate Authors:

  Technical Research Centre of Finland

  Vuorimiehentie 5
  SF-02150 Espoo 15,   Finland 
• Authors:
  • SALUSJARVI, M
  • Potinkara, T
• Publication Date: 1987

Media Info

• Pagination: 69 p.
• Serial:
  • VTT-TIED
  • Issue Number: 747
  • Publisher: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Brake lamps; Costs; Crashes; Rear end crashes; Safety; Socioeconomic factors; Traffic safety
• Uncontrolled Terms: Accident costs
• Old TRIS Terms: Braking lights
• ITRD Terms: 1661: Accident prevention; 1351: Brake light; 1874: Braking; 1243: Car; 1354: Components of the vehicle; 255: Economics; 5911: Efficiency; 6432: Number
• Subject Areas: Economics; Finance; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00470364
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
• ISBN: 951-38-2933-2
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 31 1988 12:00AM