Daytime running lights (DRL) : a review of the reports from the European Commission.

The European Commission (EC) has published the results of research into the effectiveness, costs and benefits of introducing Daytime Running Lights (DRL). This research suggested that a substantial number of casualties could be prevented if this was introduced across the EU. Further, it showed a positive benefit to cost ratio when the costs of fitting lamps and the environmental cost of running them was considered, (i.e. benefit/cost ratios >1). On the basis of this research the EC has now entered a consultation exercise on how best to implement DRL.In the past, a number of researchers have found flaws with some of the studies carried out into the effectiveness of DRL and some road safety groups are concerned that they could potentially have adverse affects for some road user groups, particularly for motorcyclists. For this reason, the DfT commissioned TRL to carry out a critical review of specific aspects of the research carried out for the EC in order to inform the DfT’s response to the EC consultation exercise.The work has involved TRL experts reviewing specific parts of the researchreports produced for the EC, comparing the methods and findings with other related research and carrying out a sensitivity analysis on the cost benefit model used in the EC research. (Author/publisher)