Daytime running lights (DRL): a review of the reports from the European Commission

The European Commission (EC) has published the results of research into the effectiveness, costs and benefits of introducing Daytime Running Lights (DRL). This research suggested that a substantial number of casualties could be prevented if this was introduced across the EU. Further, it showed a positive benefit to cost ratio when the costs of fitting lamps and the environmental cost of running them was considered. In the past, a number of researchers have found flaws with some of the studies carried out into the effectiveness of DRL and some road safety groups are concerned that they could potentially have adverse affects for some road user groups, particularly for motorcyclists. For this reason, the DfT has commissioned TRL to carry out a critical review of the research carried out for the EC in order to inform the DfTs response to the EC consultation exercise. The work has involved TRL subject matter experts reviewing specific parts of the research reports produced for the EC, comparing with other related research and carrying out a sensitivity analysis on the cost benefit model used in the EC research. This report describes the findings of the review in full.

• Record URL:
  http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicles/vssafety/drls/daytimerunninglampsfinalreport
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Great Britain. Department for Transport

  London,    

  Transport Research Laboratory (TRL)

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Knight, I
  • Sexton, B
  • Bartlett, R
  • Barlow, T
  • Latham, S
  • McCrae, I
• Publication Date: 2006-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Edition: Version 1.0
• Pagination: 43p
• Serial:
  • Issue Number: PPR170

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Daytime running lamps; Evaluation; Highway safety; Methodology; Traffic safety
• Uncontrolled Terms: Road safety (engineering and vehicles)
• Geographic Terms: Europe
• ATRI Terms: Cost benefit analysis; Crash countermeasure; Daytime running lights; Evaluation; Methodology; Road safety
• Subject Areas: Finance; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01386405
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 22 2012 9:16PM