New Study Shows DRLs Reduce Accident Risk by Almost 9%

Anis

25 April 2023 at 09:30 PM

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Automatic Daytime Running Light.

According to new research from the Monash University Accident Research Centre in Melbourne, Australia, vehicles equipped with automatic daytime running lights (DRLs) have a higher likelihood of avoiding visibility-based crashes than those that do not. This study sheds light on the importance of incorporating advanced safety measures in vehicles to ensure drivers can confidently navigate the roads while minimising the risks associated with driving.

DRLs are even more pronounced at higher speeds and during the transition periods of dawn and dusk.

A new study published in the Journal of Safety Research investigated the effectiveness of Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) in reducing the risk of being involved in a multi-car accident that occurs outside of the night hours, where low visibility plays a role.

The researchers used police data from several Australian states, including New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia, to estimate the level of risk reduction provided by DRLs in such scenarios.

According to the study, DRLs have a statistically significant impact on reducing the risk of accidents, with an 8.8 percent reduction observed.

In comparison to the brightness of daylight, the effect of DRLs was even more pronounced at higher speeds and during the transition periods of dawn and dusk. It implies that DRLs may play a critical role in risk mitigation during difficult lighting conditions.

The study used police-reported casualty crash data from 2010 to 2017, and it was published online on February 8, 2023.

The vehicle information, including the VIN, was obtained separately, allowing the researchers to detect the presence of Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) using spec data. Notably, cases in which DRLs were offered as a choice were excluded, resulting in a more robust dataset for analysis.

DRL installation reduced crash risk by 7.6 percent during daylight hours. However, the reduction in crash risk was much higher during dawn or dusk, reaching a staggering 20.3 percent.

The study's overall findings were significant, indicating that DRL installation was associated with an 8.8 percent reduction in crash risk.

Surprisingly, the greatest relative risk reduction associated with DRL installation was observed at dawn or dusk in areas where posted speed limits exceeded 47 miles per hour (75 kilometres per hour), indicating a 23.8 percent reduction in crash risk.

Some governments have made them mandatory on motor vehicles. Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Canada, for example, mandated DRLs decades ago. So far, the US government has resisted taking up the DRL cause, citing a lack of meaningful studies demonstrating that DRLs reduce accidents or save lives. Meanwhile in Malaysia, the first cars equipped with DRL were from Volvo in the early 1980s. DRLs were not separate lighting elements as we know them today, but bulbs were kept on all the time. They had a higher wattage because they needed to be very bright to be effective in the strong Malaysian sunlight. This meant they generated more heat. This resulted in an unexpected issue: the plastic covers began to deform.

DRL is now available on B segment models such as the 2023 Perodua Axia.

DRLs have evolved from a safety feature to a styling feature, providing a visual signature that identifies the model. This has been evident on premium brands where there have been common themes for the DRL style, and designers are doing the same thing further downmarket these days.

Previously, DRL was only available on luxury vehicles and D segment models; however, the feature is now available on B segment models such as the Honda City, Toyota Vios, and even the Perodua Myvi.

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