I used to secretly laugh at my mother as she, in her older years, would use a flashlight, in the daytime to check the thermostat. I shouldn’t have, because I had been told, while in the Highway Patrol Academy, that we need twice as much light at 40 as we did at 20 to see and a 60 year old needs four times as much. As we age things change, including our retina and the lens yellows, letting in less light.
I tell you this because, I see so many people driving without their daytime running lights (DRs) on. I tell you this, because we don’t stop driving at 40 or 60 or even 80 years of age and greater. And I bet you know people, as I do, who have sight issues. Help them and all of us, by using your DRL’s.
I investigated accidents, where just a wee bit of difference, made the difference between an accident, an injury or a fatality. Driving is dangerous. Yesterday evening driving back to Owensville from the St. Louis area at dusk, the sun was in my face, I was able to notice cars so much easier when their DRL’s or regular headlights on. As I pulled back onto Highway 50, this could have been the difference between pulling out in front of someone and not. Studies show a reduction of 10 to 15 percent in crashes with DTLs and 20 percent in head-on-crashes. If it just made one percent difference that your child, parent or close friend was not involved in a crash or injured or killed, isn’t it worth it?
While I am a long way from being a World Traveler, I recently traveled to Scotland and Germany with my daughter, where ALL vehicles are mandated to have DRLs. I seldom saw a vehicle without these lights on. The United States accident rates are significantly higher than any other high income area. When I was in training for a new job, my boss assigned me to a number of senior co-workers. He said take the good from each and discard the bad. Perhaps we can learn from our European neighbors.
Since 1995, America cars have had daytime running lights. They use very little energy. DRL’s have a very long life span and even a longer life if they are LEDs. Most Americans Manufactures started using LEDs in the mid 2000’s. Today all American vehicles have LED’s daytime running lights.
Missouri requires headlights (DRL’s or regular) to be on when raining, regardless of the time of the day. When wipers are on, lights must be on.
On or Off? In Missouri it’s your choice, except when wipers are on. Please, PLEASE turn on your Daytime Running Lights. If they have been turned off, find out how to turn them on. If your vehicle does not have DRL’s turn on your headlights. The life you save may be mine, or someone who is much more important to you.
David Sprecker
