Daytime running Lights pose no threat to more vulnerable traffic participants

Starting Monday, February 7, 2011, new vehicles can only be licensed in Europe if they are equipped with so called daytime running lights. On this occasion, HFC has released the results of a two year study ordered by the “Unfallforschung der Versicherer” ( UDV ) dealing with the impact of driving with daytime running light on road safety, especially for more vulnerable participants like pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists.

It has been assumed for a long time that weaker traffic participants could drown in the increase of light, therefore becoming more frequently involved in risky situations or even accidents. This assumption led, for example, to the abolishment of the former obligation to drive with lights on at daytime in Austria, starting at January 1, 2008.

In cooperation with the UDV and the specialists for lighting engineering from the University of Technology Berlin, extensive studies were conducted in a light-testing facility, driving simulator and in the field. At the same time the European daytime running lights obligation came into effect, results were obtained that gave rise to sounding the all-clear: Neither was the visual attention of car drivers “bound” by daytime running lights, nor did they tend to ignore or realize weaker participants later. In several different scenarios there was no negative impact on road safety measurable regarding weaker road users.  Motorcyclist, which were already driving with lights on during daytime before, aren’t “masked” by the illuminated cars in a way that would keep them from attracting the oncoming traffic’s attention.

Under the condition of dark or rainy weather, there was a slight increase in the time the lit-up cars were focused, but this didn’t came at the expense of other traffic participants.

Short summary of results:

• Most of the studies so far mainly provided estimations instead of reliable, statistically supported data due to methodical reasons; this is true for studies that favor daytime running lights as well as those that criticized the concept
• Three series of tests showed no clue that pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclist would be endangered by daytime running light
• The use of light during daytime is especially recommendable at dark or rainy days and when driving through a surrounding with high light-dark contrast ( i.e. avenues)
• However, no positive effects regarding the use of daytime running lights could be noticed, as well

Further information can be found at the Unfallforschung der Versicherer (article only available in German).