FLEET EXPERIENCE WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES

Previous research in Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States has indicated that daytime running lights (DRLs) -- vehicle lights that are on during daylight hours -- can reduce the frequency of daytime multiple-vehicle crashes. In this study, over 2,000 passenger cars, vans, and pickup trucks in three fleets were modified to operate with DRLs. An inexpensive relay was installed on these vehicles to automatically turn on their front parking lights and rear tail lights with vehicle ignition. In addition, bulbs with substantially higher intensity minor filaments were installed in the front parking lights. The crash experience of these vehicles was compared to similar but unmodified vehicles in the fleets. Overall, the proportion of multiple-vehicle crashes relevant to DRLs that occurred during daytime hours was seven percent lower for the vehicles equipped with DRLs.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01487191
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at SAE Government/Industry Meeting and Exposition Washington, D.C., May 20-23, 1985.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Stein, H
• Publication Date: 1985

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Tables;
• Pagination: 13 p.
• Serial:
  • SAE Technical Paper
  • Publisher: Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
  • ISSN: 0148-7191
  • EISSN: 2688-3627
  • Serial URL: http://papers.sae.org/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Daytime running lamps; Fleet management; Safety; Traffic safety
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fleets
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00451307
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE 851239, HS-039 113
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Dec 31 1985 12:00AM