CHANGES IN THE LEGISLATION ON THE USE OF DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BY MOTOR VEHICLES AND THEIR EFFECT ON ROAD SAFETY IN HUNGARY

As of 1 March 1993, a partial, and as of 1 June 1994, a total legal obligation to use daytime running lights (DRL) came into force outside built-up areas in Hungary. This paper examines the effectiveness of this regulation as an accident countermeasure. In view of the fact that it became possible to use one part of the road network as a comparison group during the period of partial obligation, a comparison group investigation has been carried out in addition to the analysis based on the odds ratio method familiar from earlier studies. The different methods provide different results, the probable causes of which are discussed in the study. The results of the comparison group analysis are consistent not only with the hypothesis that DRL reduces certain types of collisions, but also with the results of a meta-analysis of 17 studies that have evaluated the effects on accidents of using DRL on cars. By using this method, it was possible to detect in the experimental group a 13% reduction in the number of frontal and 'crossing' vehicle collisions in daylight, in good visibility conditions, during the after period. The number of frontal and crossing collisions decreased without a simultaneous increase in rear-end collisions: the number of the latter has not significantly changed. Thus, the hypothesis that it is more reliable to estimate the collision-reducing effect of DRL on the basis of accidents only occurring in good visibility conditions, rather than on the basis of the total number of daylight accidents, has been justified by this study. The causes of this, as well as the difficulties and confounding factors arising when the odds ratio method is used, are dealt with in this work. By analyzing over a longer time series, it was possible to verify that the positive road safety effect is not a mere novelty effect, and is not simply due to the 'regression to the mean'.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00014575
• Corporate Authors:

  Elsevier

  The Boulevard, Langford Lane
  Kidlington, Oxford  United Kingdom  OX5 1GB
• Authors:
  • Hollo, P
• Publication Date: 1998-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 183-199
• Serial:
  • Accident Analysis & Prevention
  • Volume: 30
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0001-4575
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00014575

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Countermeasures; Crash avoidance systems; Daytime running lamps; Highway safety; Safety; Traffic safety; Visibility
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00745295
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-042 640
• Files: HSL, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 8 1998 12:00AM