Northern Ireland – A few years ago I wrote a paper in response to an EU Commission “bright idea” to introduce “Daytime Running Lights” also known as “DRL” for all vehicles. The Commission’s objective was to increase the conspicuity of road users in order to reduce road casualties.
MAG Response to European Commission Daytime Running Lights Consultation September 2006 pdf 204kb
Then, the Commission had put out a consultation paper asking for considered opinions and comments in order to gain support for the proposal.
The questions posed were the following:
- Is the approach of a technical requirement to equip all vehicles with automatic dedicated daytime running lights, coupled with a user requirement to use dipped beam headlights or retrofitted dedicated DRL the correct one, or should other alternatives be considered?
- Should there be specific rules concerning motorcycles, e.g. a different colour of light for them?
The Consultation paper stated that ‘if measures are taken to require the use of DRL throughout the EU, it could help saving between 1,200 and 2,000 road fatalities per year and thus make an important contribution to the European target of saving 25,000 lives per year on European roads’.
A reduction of 1,200 (4.8%) to 2,000 (8%) fatalities per year appears to be based on estimates from dedicated safety studies written by authoritative experts which have focused on the benefits of DRL.
We’ve learnt over the years that it tends to be a waste of time to challenge the studies of these ‘experts’, because they’re paid to come up with data and opinions that give credence to whatever proposal the Commission is planning.
We wrote then – that we were of the view that the studies have not produced sufficient evidence to guarantee that DRL will reduce road fatalities. What they were successful in doing is to analyse existing data and based on the assessments of these studies, they predicted that DRL might be successful in reducing road casualties.
So in spite of various organisations producing relevant data to debunk the experts : Motorcycle Minds – Virtual Library – Day Time Running Lights the Commission did what it is very good at doing – it just ignored facts and evidence.
In the case of daytime running lights, there was a considerable amount of to-ing and fro-ing amongst the various lobbyists and as a result, the European Commission opted for ‘dedicated’ daytime running lights (diode lights) rather than dipped-beam headlights, in order to reduce road casualties. A small victory you might think, but not really because what became clear was that in spite of more than fifty studies on daytime lighting over thirty years, the case in favour of daytime running lights – of any type – is politically driven and still lacks sufficient evidence, due to the difficulties in achieving a reliable measurement of the effect of DRL.
Irrespective of the fact that the Commission sets the agenda by producing specific directives – in this case the directive aims to make dedicated DRL mandatory for all new cars and light vans from 2011, the member states seem to believe that directives are simply a tool for interpretation – or elaboration.
In the case of the Republic Of Ireland, a consultation was put out to the public, in order to gain support to introduce DRL before the mandatory introduction in 2011. The Republic of Ireland is a special case – not least because they used to have the worst road casualties in the whole of Western Europe. In fact now that the Eastern European countries have joined the EU, the Irish authorities must be relieved, because other countries now have more deaths and injuries on the roads in proportion to population than them.
In the Irish consultation paper, they state that there are two types of DRL: dipped headlights or dedicated lights that automatically switch on when the engine is started. The document further states that: “Dipped head light DRL – the dipped headlights are lit at all times whilst driving.”
We argued that dipped headlights that are lit at all times are not DRL, these are lights that are designed for the driver to see and be seen at night and not designed for the vehicle to be seen during the day, with associated issues of glare, approaching speed. There are (or were in certain cases) dimmed dipped headlights, these are systems that when the vehicle is operated, the headlights operate at a reduced output and the headlights operate normally when the headlight switch is turned on.
We also argued that – according to the Irish National Road Authority (NRA), the most important factor contributing to a large extent to road fatalities in Ireland (92%) is the behaviour of the road user and the behaviour of drivers contributes to 76.9% of road fatalities.
The NRA document highlighted two principle causes as excessive and inappropriate speed and driving while intoxicated, whether through drugs or alcohol.
- In relation to the justification of mandatory DRL to reduce casualties in Ireland, how effective could DRL be to a person who is intoxicated?
- If drink driving is a major factor in fatalities in Ireland, how would the introduction of DRL make a difference?
- An intoxicated driver would not improve their ability to drive carefully, because this type of driver would not be in full control of the vehicle.
But this is not just an Irish phenomenon, in Norway for example, similar issues of those identified as the cause of fatalities in Ireland (speeding and drink driving) are amongst the major reasons for road accidents.
Whatever the solution – which will be decided whether we agree or not, I have come to the conclusion that sadly, no matter what rational logic or evidence is provided, our politicians and civil servants, whether in Europe or nationally, will continue to fall back on the “Dead Horse Theory” as their rationale and justification for new legislation.
Dead Horse Theory
Known in academic circles as the dead horse theory, which offers a little wisdom for government departments or institutions or perhaps even ourselves.
The tribal wisdom of the Dakota Indians is passed on from generation to generation states:
“When you discover that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount.”
However more advanced strategies are often employed, such as:
- Buying a stronger whip.
- Changing riders.
- Appointing a committee to study the horse. Better yet, bring in an army of consultants to over study the horse.
- Say things like, “This is the way we have always ridden this horse.”
- Arranging to visit other countries to see how other cultures ride dead horses.
- Lowering the standards so that dead horses can be included.
- Ride the dead horse “outside the box.”
- Compare the state of dead horses in today’s environment.
- Hiring outside contractors to ride the dead horse.
- Harnessing several dead horses together to increase speed.
- Providing additional funding and/or training to increase the dead horse’s performance.
- Doing a productivity study to see if lighter riders would improve the dead horse’s performance.
- Declaring that as the dead horse does not have to be fed, it is less costly, carries lower overhead and therefore contributes substantially more to the bottom line than do some other horses.
- Rewriting the expected performance requirements for all horses.
- Promoting the dead horse to a supervisory position.
- Declare that “This horse was procured with cost as an independent variable.”
- Form a charity so that others can pay for the dead horse.
- Get the horse a Web site. (Source: unknown – but thought to be from a wise native American living in Dakota)
Elaine Hardy
Ken Perham says
Dear Elaine,
I like Javier Rodriguez would like to congratulate you. Thoroughly enjoyable reading your work on DRL’s etc.
It is now emerging that Labour spent thousands on consultants who do not have their fingers on the pulse.
I have without a doubt unequivocally proved the brightness of the “Bi-xenon” at night is a danger. DRL’s are also now so bright on New London Busses we have the [Have & have not syndrome]
“Let us all get the brightest DRL’s and Bi-xenon Headlamps and all “Dazzle” each other into oblivion.”
I found this reply written on an article in the Surrey Mirror from Richard Elder from Ireland and is one of my favourites about my campaign to make all our roads more safe. His comment is short but hits importance with laser guided precision.
Feedback 1
Surrey Mirror from Aug 2009
I totally agree with Kenneth’s comments and observations. What he says is correct. My experiences of drivers using bi-xenon headlights (day or night) have convinced me they are a fine example of a good idea that has been very poorly executed. The comments by Surrey Police’s Paul Beard fail to address the IMPORTANT issue. That is-road safety. Who cares if bi-xenon are more energy efficient or provide an enhanced view of the road ahead. Bi-xenon headlights are flawed and make driving conditions more dangerous for other motorists, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians.
Richard elder, n. Ireland
Commented on 10-Mar-2010 10:27
Richard found my article 6 Months after and commented beautifully so I do hope you know him.
Keep writing tongue in cheek and collectively we will make a difference.
Ken Perham.
I have been blindedbixenon! Have you?
Javier Rodríguez says
Your reasoning is very good.
Here in Spain (the very sunny Spain!!!) the authorities were promoting the use of dipped beam headlights at all times.
They are confusing the meaning of DRL (Dedicated Running Lights) with promoting the use of dipped beam headlights at all times.
They are arguing the same as in other countries with flawed evidence from studies that are only favourable, studies that they have funded, for example, the study by the IDIADA´s laboratory who received funding from DGT.
The only valid study is one that also looks at the negative side, any new solution carries problems and the use of the “system” of dipped beam headlights at all times or DRL are not foreign to having a negative effect for all road users..
If all drivers have their headlights on I am sure that drivers will say, “I did not know where to look” as they drive through a sea of lights and only when they kill a pedestrian they will say, ”I did not see them, because they were not shining!”
In other countries, after introducing or promoting the use of dipped beam headlights at all times, authorities should verify any changes in accident rates, whether there was a significant decrease of increase in accidents and injuries.
Even more important if certain groups of road users, from motorcyclists to pedestrians to cyclists, were suffering more accidents and injuries on having lost their conspicuity.
The experts say that it is possible that the presence of the DRL helped to avoid an accident, but they will never be able to value these accidents that were avoided, these near misses, or that the reason for the near miss in the first place was because the driver initially lost the attention on another vehicle that was shining bright with its lights on………
I believe that it is important to launch campaigns in order that society knows the truth on the problems faced regarding this issue.
If politicians are not engaged and informed at this early stage, as they are the legislator,s then the battle is lost against these experts, however the war can be won if social pressure is applied.
Cheers and thanks Elaine.
Javier Rodríguez
javier.rd@pushsv.es