Americans over the age of 18 now spend an average
of 18 hours and 31 minutes per week in their car. This turns into 2 hours and 38
minutes per day! In 2004, 1.2 million people died because of car accidents. Lowering the number accidents in turn
lowers hospitalizations, health insurance claims, decreases financial burdens
and lowers stress. There are now simple public health measures to lower the
number of car accidents. one measure includes car headlights. Each state sets
its own laws for headlights but in general the laws all cover the same things.
In general, the law states all headlights must be turned on during times of
darkness and precipitation. Now new studies are coming out and people are being
encouraged to turn headlights on at all times. In newer models of cars daytime running lights (DTL’S) are being installed.
These are usually higher beam headlights at a reduced intensity. In the United
States a few studies were done to determine the effectiveness of DTL’S, one
study in 1985 showed a 7 percent decrease in daytime multiple- vehicle
accident, similar studies in other countries have shown very similar results. This is a cheap way of
reducing the number of car accidents; other countries like Canada have been
doing this for years. Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, and
Sweden all have laws requiring cars to have DTL’S. . Public health is reducing
accidents and helping others by implementing DTL’S and encouraging people to
turn headlights on during the day. By doing this an individual reduces the
chances of being in a collision by as much as 32 percent!
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I work at an auto-parts store and I couldn't agree more with your post.The fact that good visibility while driving saves lives, should be the forefront at insuring driver safety.The windshield is another part of the car that manufactures should empathize. Maybe heating the windshield or coating it with a permanent rain repellant, could reduce complications while driving in the rain.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was really interesting. When I first saw the picture I was thinking, how would headlights be a public health measure, but when explained it totally makes sense. I know driving without headlights at night is practically impossible, and it definitely is WAY safer to have headlights. Car accidents are so common and whatever we can do to make our cars and roads safer is a public health measure.
ReplyDeleteHaving headlights on during the day and night have more benefits than negatives. Other drivers will be able to see you as well as you will be able to see the road and other vehicles. People are used to having these factors and forget that cars at one point did not have headlights.
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