THE PREVENTION of 14 deaths on the State’s roads would offset the €41 million annual cost of implementing a daytime running light policy for all vehicles, a Road Safety Authority consultation paper states.
Such a policy involves vehicles having low-beam headlights turned on during daylight hours. There are two types: dipped headlights and dedicated lights that automatically switch on when an engine is started. The system increases road safety levels by reducing collisions as vehicles are more visible.
The consultation paper notes that such an initiative would increase the cost of running the national vehicle fleet by €41 million through extra fuel usage, higher levels of air pollution and greater light bulb consumption.
However, it says if the system saved 14 lives annually the cost would be offset. This is based on data by Goodbody Economic Consultants which says each road death costs the exchequer some €2.9 million in terms of lost gross national product.
The system is used in 14 EU countries including Sweden, Slovenia, Italy and Norway.
In 2008, the European Commission published a directive stating daytime running lights must be installed on all new types of passenger cars and small vans from February of next year.
Research cited says fatal multi-vehicle collisions on the State’s roads could be reduced by 15 per cent if motorists were obliged to use daytime running lights.
