EFFECT OF REFLECTORISED NUMBER PLATES ON "HIT PARKED VEHICLES" IN NIGHTTIME

In 1987 New Zealand adopted a policy of fitting reflectorised number plates to newly registered vehicles. An analysis based on crash records has been undertaken to determine whether the reflectorised plates have had any measurable benefits in reducing crashes. This analysis examined hit parked vehicle crashes at nighttime, using hit parked vehicle crashes in daytime as the control. The analysis shows a significant reduction in crashes of the type examined. Benefit:cost is probably 24:1, but a conservative estimate is 12:1. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see IRRD abstract no. E200232.