Re: The Case for DRLs (long)

From: Jon N. Benignus (blkwidow1@primary.net)
Date: Sat Jan 17 2004 - 07:39:16 EST


on 1/16/04 10:19 PM, Bob Tom at tigers@bserv.com wrote:

> The effect of DRLs on motorcycle crashes has been studied in Denmark and
> Norway, where daytime lights
> were required for motorcyclists prior to the DRL law for passenger
> vehicles. In the study in Norway, a
> 4-percent increase, not statistically significant, was found for
> motorcyclist crashes. In Hansen's
> evaluation of Denmark's law, daytime multiple-vehicle crashes involving
> motorcycles were unchanged,
> but nighttime and single-vehicle daytime motorcycle crashes decreased over
> this period, leading Hansen
> to conclude that there might be a "minor negative impact" of DRLs on
> motorcycle crashes.

Notice, with M/C DRLs running at 100% intensity, and bouncing/wiggling,
accidents went UP by 4%.
You can put laser beams on something, if you don't want to see it, you
won't. Auto drivers do not feel M/Cs are a threat to them, so while they see
the bike, it is quickly put out of their minds.
In nearly all left turn crashes involving a bike and car, the auto driver
says, "I didn't see him".
I spoke with a guy who was driving his bike when he saw a car ahead with its
L signal on. Both drivers made eye contact, and the car then turned in front
of the bike, resulting in the bike center punching the car. The auto driver
stated, "You motorcyclists go too fast. I needed to teach you a lesson".
The see no threat from a bike, so they it doesn't register in their minds.
Trains-they have very loud horns and bright lights, and most crossings have
flashing lights. People still say they didn't see/hear the train.

What I find funny is school busses with a strobe light on top. If you can't
see that big, bright yellow bus, you sure aren't going to see a blinking
light.

And, what effect to DRLs have on night time and SINGLE VEHICLE crashes?
If the gov't funds a study, they will do anything to make the study say what
they want.

Jon
STL MO
92 RC LB V6 AT
3 bikes



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