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Lights On

Lights On. A Science Fair Entry by Dean Bolt Jan-Mar 2002 Version of 2-25-2002. Acknowledgements. My dad helped me with both the idea & how to take data for this science fair project. Maryland Senator Arthur Dorman –One of the bills sponsors

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Lights On

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  1. Lights On A Science Fair Entry by Dean Bolt Jan-Mar 2002 Version of 2-25-2002

  2. Acknowledgements • My dad helped me with both the idea & how to take data for this science fair project. • Maryland Senator Arthur Dorman –One of the bills sponsors • Asking for District Court Maryland actual citations for years since this law went into effect • Mother & dad for helping me learn how to use PC, especially Goggle search engine • Maryland MVA • Questions related to public education of law • US Federal Government • Richard L. Van Iderstine ; Chief, Visibility and Injury Prevention Division for NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in Washington DC • Mr. Iderstine helped with testing ideas

  3. Question Are the Maryland drivers putting there headlights on during daytime rainstorms as required by law for safety ?

  4. Research Subject • Ask Maryland sponsors of the law how it is working • Search on line discussion groups on topic • Find actual Maryland Bill & Law wording • What is being discussed on Internet about topic • What are other countries doing ? Other US states ? • What has been effect on safety from law ? • Ask Federal Government for information on topic & Effects of DRL • Ask Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles • Is law incorporated into license test & test study booklet ? • How many violations recorded since law went into effect ?

  5. Sources / Bibliography • Web Site • Association of Drivers Against Daytime Running Lights (DRL’s) web site • Canadian Driver web site • Daytime Running Lights: The Studies web site • General Motors web site on “Daytime Driving Lights” • John Cletheroe’s USA and Canada Holliday Hints web site • Maryland Medical School web site on vehicle crash statistics. • Maryland State Archives web site “Maryland House Bill 68” & “Senate Bill 430” • Miata Mailing List: November 1997,Message #23 on Maryland Law. • North Carolina DMV web site • Pennsylvania AAA Federation web site • SHA Programs & Regulations web site on Maryland • U.S. DOT web site on “NHTSA Proposed Reduced Glare From Daytime Running Lights to Motor Vehicles” • Newsgroup Discussions • Alt.travel.road-trip.driving discussion on Re: Slow Drivers. Relates to Maine & Maryland headlight law. • Rec.autos.driving discussion on “Re: Fog light legality” discussion from 1994. Relates to Maryland headlight law. • Rec.autos.driving discussion on “Re: PLEASE, turn your lights On ( in heavy rain)!!!!” discussion from 1994. Relates to Florida & Maryland headlight law. • E-Mail Replies • Arthur Dorman, Maryland State Senator & one of sponsors of headlight law. Reply included annual law citations. Reply of 5 Feb 2002 • Maryland MVA Testing & Licensing Group • Richard L. Van Iderstine, Chief , Visibility and Injury Prevention Division.Reply relates to not having any good data on DRL mix and helpful hints to improve experiment

  6. Materials • Highway Traffic on rainy day during daylight hours • VHS Video Camera > Record vehicle traffic • VHS Video Player > Playback of traffic for counting • Rain coat • Rain cover for VHS camera > Plastic sheet • Computer on Internet to research topic & E-mail for more information

  7. The Law In Simple Words • This Maryland law requires a driver to light a vehicle’s headlamps or fog lights if the vehicle’s windshield wipers are operating for a continuous period because of impaired visibility.The law provides that failure to comply is not a moving violation, is subject to a maximum fine of $25, and may only be enforced as a secondary violation. • See actual wording of Law in notebook. Note, use of running lights were specifically written out as a way to comply!

  8. Assumption Maryland drivers are not really putting their headlights on very much as law requires

  9. Procedure • Independent Variable • Weather Conditions To Require Headlights Being On By Law • Dependent Variable ( Observed Data ) • Vehicle Headlights or Fog Lights Being On of Off • Controlled Variable ( Factors Held Constant ) • Location • Time Of Day • Rainy Day Conditions

  10. Data Taking Procedure • Plan for Data Taking Based on Weather predictions • Choose rainy day for data of law compliance (after sun rise & before sun set ) • Using Video Camera To Take Data • Charge VHS Camera Battery • Put blank VHS tape in camera • Video traffic for set time period or number of vehicles • Protect camera & data takers from rain • We learned to use camera from inside of car • Play Video data & count vehicles both with & without lights on • Record data & make percent results from data ratios • Ask state about cars caught for no lights • Write E-mail to State Officials • Collect information on other states & countries about similar laws • Internet search • Collect data on vehicles that have Daytime Running Lights (DRL)

  11. Research Subject • Ask Maryland sponsors of the law how it is working • Search on line discussion groups on topic • Find actual bill wording • Ask Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles • Is law incorporated into license test & test study booklet ?

  12. Explanation Of Science Fair Data • Rainy Day Test One (1) • Done by my dad to prove data could be taken & get an idea of how many were not putting their lights on. • Rainy Day Test Two (2) • Done by Dean & his dad in Rain • This is data source used in Conclusion

  13. Daytime Running Lights“DRL” • DRL Equipped Vehicles • Daytime running lights are already standard equipment on Toyota, Volkswagen,and BMW. • General Motors ( GM) as of last year had more than 25 million light duty vehicles sold with DRL • DRL has been the law in Canada for several years, and the manufactures of these vehicles in Canada & for Canada also provide this design for the US version. • Results of both Canadian and US data indicates vehicle to pedestrian and vehicle to vehicle accident reductions from this feature. • For Science Project • It was assumed our data was influenced by DRL. • A data sample was taken to see how many vehicles had their lights on all the time & would be part of the high compliance on rainy day.

  14. What Could Influence Data • Time Of Day • Driver may have started out driving in dark and still had lights on! We took data approximately 1 &1/2 hours after sun rise. • No sample taken at mid day • Weather • Heavy rain may influence divers more than light rain to put their lights on • Driver & Passengers • More that one occupant in vehicle might increase likelihood of lights being on • No sample taken • Driver education • Is it on drivers license Questions ? • Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles Confirms Yes • Is it on news or ? • No word search done • Internet chat confirms some discussions going on • Do drivers have a good knowledge of law ? • No survey done • Vehicles with DRL • My dad took a survey at same location & time of day without rain. His data from over 400 vehicles counter indicates 24% ( 96400) of vehicles have DRL or other reason to have headlights on other than rain. Also noted , not all large trucks have DRL.

  15. Vehicle Headlights On Data

  16. Vehicles With Headlights On During Rainy Day Time

  17. Actual MD Violations Issued • Data From One of MD Senators that sponsored bill in 1997 • Data From Arthur Dorman • Maryland Citations Written For 1997 Headlight Law • 1st Year----July 1999 -- June 1999 -- 256 Citations Written • 2nd Year----July 1999 -- June 2000 -- 211 Citations Written • 3rd Year-----July 2000 -- June 2001 -- 195 Citations Written • 4th year-----July 2001 -- June 2002-Not Available Yet !

  18. Results • From a Large sample of 868 vehicles counted on a rainy morning in Bowie on RT 3 South , 96.5% were obeying the headlights on in rain law • All large trucks were obeying the headlights on in rain law

  19. Conclusions • Most vehicles are obeying the new headlight law • Our sample indicates 96.5% • My Prediction were much to low. They were not only not supported, but were very pessimistic • Our sample also indicates all large trucks are obeying • The fairly low annual violations recorded by the Maryland police is another good indicator of continual increase in abeyance • Based on my dad’s short data sample of 300 vehicles on same road & time , there is indication of 24 % of the vehicles have DRL. • Future work: • Maryland state level education for the law, both what is being done & interviews of public for results. • Taking data on roads other than highways • Number of DRL vehicles registered in MD vs total registered

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