REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ON DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL)

This review of the research on daytime running lights (DRL) was conducted to provide input to an examination by the Department of Transport and Regional Services of the suitability of DRL for Australian conditions. The INROADS, TRIS and ITRD data bases and the Internet were scanned, and telephone consultations were held with key officers in the road and transport authorities of the different Australian jurisdictions. There is a substantial body of evidence which shows that DRL are effective in reducing daytime crashes, but studies disagree as to the size of the reduction. It is therefore difficult to predict what impact they might have in Australia. The best technical option for DRL appears to be dedicated DRL with an intensity of 1200 candelas, designed to direct its light towards oncoming vehicles, and with reduced power requirements. Dipped headlights direct most of their light at the road surface and have higher power requirements. Dedicated DRL have favourable benefit-cost ratios, while full-time operation of dipped headlights has a benefit-cost ratio close to one. The costs of providing DRL would be considerably reduced if the DRL operated only in conditions of low ambient lighting. Although visibility experiments suggest these are the only conditions under which DRL are of benefit, there are no studies available which relate crash reductions to ambient light conditions, so that it is not clear how much of the benefits associated with full time operation would be realised. In view of the jurisdictions' preference for full-time operation, evidence in support of this option would have to be persuasive before it was adopted. An appropriate course of action for Australia will be to await the outcome of the determinations currently taking place in Europe in relation to DRL, and which are expected to be complete by the end of the year. At that stage it would be appropriate to give the issue full consideration in the light of the European decision.

Language

  • English

Media Info

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00971070
  • Record Type: Publication
  • ISBN: 0642255105
  • Files: HSL, TRIS, ATRI
  • Created Date: Mar 11 2004 12:00AM