Side marker lamps were installed in cars, trucks, buses, trailers and multipurpose passenger vehicles in response to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108. The purpose of side marker lamps is to enable a driver to see another vehicle that is approaching at an angle at night -- and to see it early enough that the driver can stop in time to prevent a collision or, at least, slow down to reduce the severity of the collision. The objectives of this agency staff evaluation are to determine how many accidents, casualties and damages are prevented by side marker lamps and to measure the actual cost of the lamps. The evaluation is based on statistical analyses of North Carolina, Texas and Fatal Accident Reporting System data, a study of travelling speeds in fatal angle collisions, and cost analyses of production lamp assemblies. It was found that: (1) Side marker lamps annually prevent 106,000 accidents, 93,000 nonfatal injuries and $347 million in property damage; (2) The lamps have not been effective in reducing fatalities; and (3) They add $21 (in 1982 dollars) to the lifetime cost of owning and operating a motor vehicle. (Author/publisher)
Abstract