The survey of daytime running-light usage rates for motor vehicles is carried out annually by trained bfu staff in June and July. About 30 000 vehicles with Swiss licence plates are observed at a total of 57 counting locations throughout Switzerland as to whether they are being driven with dipped or full-beam headlights during the daytime. Vehicles with CD/CC plates or with customs, military and post-office numbers as well as public-service vehicles are not counted. The calculations for daytime running-light usage rates consist solely of surveys carried out in fine weather. The number of kilometers driven is included according to vehicle type, language area and location. In 2013, 68% of cars were driving around with daytime running lights. There were clear differences depending on location: while the rate for daytime running lights for cars in built-up areas was only 64%, the figure for motorways was 76%. There were also differences in the language areas: car drivers in German-speaking Switzerland and in Ticino use daytime running lights more often (70% and 67% respectively) than car drivers in the French-speaking part (52%). With a figure of 94%, motorcyclists are in first place among drivers who use daytime running lights. It has been a fixed habit among them for years in order to make themselves more visible to other road users. In addition, some motorcycle manufacturers have reacted to the legal regulations, which increasingly apply internationally, and no longer install any light switches. Switching off dipped headlights is thus no longer possible. Daytime running lights are also supported by legislation in Switzerland. A “directory provision” has applied since the beginning of 2002, noncompliance with which has had no consequences for drivers so far. However, this directory provision will become compulsory from 1 January 2014 within the framework of the “Via sicura” package of measures. The bfu’s 2013 survey will thus be the last one to record the rates for daytime running lights based on a voluntary decision or on a technical regulation applying to vehicles. A clear increase and an alignment of the rates between locations and language areas might therefore be expected for 2014. However, experience gained from other surveys has shown that it often takes a long time to change habits. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting