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Title: RESEARCH PAYS OFF. REAR GUARD: ADDITIONAL BRAKE LAMPS HELP PREVENT REAR-END CRASHES
Accession Number: 00490556
Record Type: Component
Availability: Find a library where document is available Abstract: This article briefly reviews the history of the development of the center high-mounted stop lamp (CHMSL), beginning with research in the late 1960s to improve vehicle rear lighting systems to the modification of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, requiring all new passenger cars built after September 1, 1985 to have CHMSLs. After CHMSLs became standard vehicle equipment, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted an evaluation based on crash records for 1986 and 1987 car models in 11 states. The records for these CHMSL-equipped vehicles were compared with those for 1980-1985 vehicles. For cases in which the back of the car was damaged and stop lights had been activated, rear impacts had been reduced by an average of 17%. The study also indicated that the CHMSLs were more effective during the day (20% reduction), especially at dawn and dusk, than at night (8% reduction). They were especially effective at preventing chain collisions involving three or more vehicles. Results were consistent throughout all 11 states. Costs of CHMSLs were $10.50 per new car (1987 dollars), or $105 million per year for new cars sold in the United States. It is now estimated that when most cars are equipped with the lights (in about 10 years), 126,000 reported crashes will be avoided and $910 million in property damage will be saved each year. The $2 million cost of the entire research program plus the $3 million cost of the regulatory program will be recouped easily through reduced accidents, crash costs, and pain and suffering.
Corporate Authors: Transportation Research Board 500 Fifth Street, NW Pagination: p. 12-13
Publication Date: 1989-11
Serial: Features: Figures
(1)
; Photos
(1)
TRT Terms: Identifier Terms: Uncontrolled Terms: Old TRIS Terms: Subject Areas: Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety
Files: TRIS, TRB
Created Date: Jan 31 1990 12:00AM
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