Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs) are installed on motor vehicles to increase the visual conspicuity of the vehicle to other motorists and pedestrians in their vicinity. Numerous studies have shown significant reductions in collision rates for vehicles equipped with DRLs, compared to vehicles without DRLs. A previous study performed in 2000 by Exponent Failure Analysis Associates for General Motors Corporation (GM) compared the collision rates of vehicles, both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian. The study reviewed field accident data from 12 US states for several GM, Saab, Volvo and other vehicles. Collision rates were compared for the Model Year prior to DRL introduction to the Model Year after introduction. The findings showed statistically significant reductions in several different collision modes. The most significant reduction involved vehicle-to-pedestrians. In 2002 this study was updated to include five additional States and more vehicles. The new study reviewed the effectiveness as before, and closely reviewed the effectiveness for protecting pedestrians, both children and adults. The study additionally reviewed the effectiveness as it relates to the method of DRL execution (e.g. Low Beam lamps, Turn signal, Dedicated). Among the findings of the new study is a noticeable positive effect of turn signal DRLs. This study shows estimated changes in multiple vehicle crashes ranging from (-2.31%) to (-12.4%). Furthermore, this study showed estimated changes in overall vehicle-to-pedestrian collisions as great as (-14.91 %). For multiple vehicle collisions there is a distinct reduction in collision rates for vehicles equipped with all of the DRL executions. The interactions between human vision, light intensity, collision characteristics and light color are intricate and not fully understood, and further studies are required to understand the effect of color contrast versus light intensity as evidenced by these results.


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    Title :

    Daytime running lamps (DRLs) for pedestrian protection


    Additional title:

    Tagsüber eingeschaltete Scheinwerfer (DRL) für Fußgängerschutz


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    2003


    Size :

    17 Seiten, 2 Bilder, 2 Tabellen, 10 Quellen



    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English