"Roy" <crawroy @ nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
...

> As far as I know this isn't a US only group. Here in Canada where the sun
> spends a lot of the winter at a low angle I see a big advantage to DRLs.

In an earlier post I thought I made it clear I was only grumbling about US
requirements. I have no problem with the people in Canada doing something
different. Just becasue something works in a far northernly climate doesn't
mean it is appropriate for everyone in the world. The US NHTSA conducted a
semi-reasonable study of DRLs and found no statistically valid safety
advantaege for DRLs in the US (and in fact some types of accidents increased
for cars with DRLs). The IIHS website does reference a Candian Study of
DRLs, but I can't find a copy on line (Arora, H.; Collard, D.; Robbins, G.;
Welbourne, E.R.; and White, J.G. 1994. Effectiveness of daytime running
lights in Canada. Report no. TP-12298. Ottawa, Ontario: Transport Canada).
The IIHS claimed this study showed an 11 percent reduction in some sorts of
accidents. However, there was no mention of the effect on the overall
accident rate (i.e., if other sorts of accidents increased). The NHTSA
Report (available at
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd...4/809760.pdfda ) make
interesting reading. You might also wat to read an earlier NHTSA report
which conflicts somewhat with this report (available at
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd...0/DRL7_RPT.pdf ). In
the US depending on how you spin the data you can show a significant
reduction in accidents, no net reduction, or an increase in certain type of
accidents. Results from other studies are also referenced. Best I can tell,
the people conductiong these studies (for the most part) were out to prove
DRLs were effective and analysed the data in the most favorable light. Not
good science.

- This site (a pro-DRL site) summarizes some studies (with a positive
spin) - http://www.ibiblio.org/rdu/DRLs/studies.htm
- Good pro-DRL Europena site (results probably apply to Canada, but not
necessarily the US) -
http://www.swov.nl/en/swovschrift/09...ing_lights.htm
They estimate a cost benefit ratio for DRLs, but since it is based on
northernly countries, it is possible (even likely) the cost benefit ration
for the US would not be attractive (less than 1).
- This site has a summary of pro and con arguements (well some of them) -
http://www.ibiblio.org/rdu/DRLs/argumnts.htm
- Rabid anti-DRL Site - http://www.lightsout.org/
- Another anti-DRL Site -
http://www.motorists.com/issues/drl/saturnboycott.html
another anti-DRL Site - http://www.nordicgroup.us/drl/
- An Autoweek Fourm on DRLs -
http://forums.autoweek.com/thread.js...13387&tstart=0
- Other references: http://www.drivers.com/article/000000322 ;
http://www1.tpgi.com.au/users/mpaine/drl.html

I don't have any compalints about Canada requiring DRLs. I think they are
not as effective in the US, particualrly in the Southern US, and I don't
want the US government making them a requirement.

Ed