Running lights—conspicuity, glare and accident reduction

The utility of daytime running lights for motor vehicles came under consideration in the United States during the 1960s. In the 1970s, the idea was again taken up, this time in the Nordic countries. At the present time, Finland and Sweden have compulsory daytime running lights (normally low beam) for cars and motorcycles. Norway is expected to follow suit and Denmark, as well as many other countries, has a similar requirement for motorcycles. This report presents the research arguments behind these actions. The report provides the reader with a general background in the area of visual functioning, ambient illumination conditions, detection studies of cars in traffic, experimental studies of vehicle detection as a function of general illumination and running light characteristics and, finally, studies of accident reduction.