The Ministry of Transportation and Highways fleet in the 1970s-era had 2,000 sets of daytime driving lamp operation kits installed. These kits were initially constructed by the founders of Nelson’s Pacific Insight Electronics.
As a result of the success of this installation program — aimed at reducing frontal collision accidents in the highways operations fleet — the ministry wrote regulations to have all new vehicles supplied with the units. The United States has now implemented the same installations on all their new vehicles while being manufactured.
Why has ICBC not picked up on this accident prevention tool and provided some incentive for owners of older vehicles to retrofit the installation of daytime running lights? The installations cost approximately $100 and can be completed at any ICBC approved garage.
Currently we have 20 per cent of the vehicles operating on BC highways that do not have daytime running lights installed. There is opportunity to improve highway safety by a simple non-expensive installation of a field tested, tried and true accident prevention tool.
ICBC give your head a shake. It’s time for improvements that you have the power to initiate with the carrot and stick approach. Go for it!
R. Johnson
Nelson