Driving with lights on during the day is a valuable contribution of the lowering of accident numbers

In many investigations, for example the comprehensive EU study "Daytime Running Lights" (2004), the positive effect on accidents of driving with lights on during the day was clearly demonstrated. For this reason, the KfV has been demanding for nearly 20 years that in Austria the obligation to drive with lights on during the day be introduced. The federal government has also committed itself to this traffic safety measure in the Austrian traffic safety programme. From the 15th November 2005 to the 31st December 2007, driving with lights on during the day has been obligatory on all Austrian roads and at all times of day.

Daytime Running Lights in Europe
The obligation to drive with lights on – in some places since the 70s – already exists in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Iceland, Macedonia, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland, Slovakia, Lithuania, Hungary and Italy. In Germany, Switzerland and France, car drivers are recommended to drive with their lights on during the day.

Daytime Running Lights in Austria
A growing part of the Austrian population is convinced of the positive effect of this traffic safety measure, as is demonstrated by the light-on ratio found by the KfV: According to this investigation, in 2004 already more than half of all cars travelled with their lights on during the day (52%), which is an increase of 15 percentage points compared to 2003. On motorways, already 65 percent of all drivers switch on dipped lights (2003: 49%). When the weather is fine, by now 40 percent of all cars travel with their lights on (2003: 29%), during rain this reaches 84 percent (2003: 82%), during fog 90 percent (surveyed in 2004 for the first time).

The Advantages of Daytime Running Lights

• Particularly for car drivers: Prevention of accidents at cross roads and reduction of frontal crashes during overtaking. Reduction of the seriousness of accidents.
• Particularly for motorbike drivers: More rapid perception of vehicles, in particular in the peripheral view area, better estimation of distances. 
• Particularly for pedestrians and cyclists: More safety when crossing the road through more rapid perception of illuminated vehicles.
• Particularly for children: Better perception of conspicuous objects, particularly from the corner of the eyes.
• Particularly for senior citizens: Illuminated vehicles partially compensate for reduced vision.
• Particularly for the public budget: Saving of at least € 30.2 million annually. Driving with lights on during the days provides, according to estimates, up to 3.6 times more than it costs. 
• For all families: Saving of 30 human lives annually.

Driving with lights on during the day is a valuable contribution of the lowering of accident numbers on Austria's roads. Every traffic participant profits from lights on during the day. It is not just the safety of others, but it is the personal safety of everyone. Therefore: Save 30 lives a year – simply by switching a single switch!