In a government study: An Evaluation of Side Marker Lamps For Cars, Trucks, and Buses

The side marker lights: prevent 106,000 accidents--prevent 93,000 non-fatal injuries--prevents 347 million dollars in property damage although there is no effect on fatal injuries (excess speed etc contributing here).

Based on these facts I'll keep mine stock! If I make a change it will be to illuminate them better for greater visibility.

Jim

 

based on this, you all better never speed....

 

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Sure does sound like government statistics. I am sure if the marker lights were against the law, the govt would claim the lights caused all those statistical numbers.

My question would be JUST HOW DID THEY COME UP WITH THOSE NUMBERS ANYWAY?

 

Pretty obvious you didn't read the article so I'll include some fact from the Abstract.

Side marker lamps were installed in cars, trucks, buses, trailers and multipurpose passenger vehicles in response to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108. The purpose of side marker lamps is to enable a driver to see another vehicle that is approaching at an angle at night--and to see it early enough that the driver can stop in time to prevent a collision or, at least, slow down to reduce the severity of the collision. The objectives of this agency staff evaluation are to determine how many accidents, casualties and damages are prevented by side marker lamps and to measure the actual cost of the lamps. The evaluation is based on statistical analyses of North Carolina, Texas and Fatal Accident Reporting System data, a study of traveling speeds in fatal angle collisions, and cost analyses of production lamp assemblies. It was found that:

• Side marker lamps annually prevent 106,000 accidents, 93,000 nonfatal injuries and $347 million in property damage.
  
• The lamps have not been effective In reducing fatalities
  
• They add $21 (in 1982 dollars) to the lifetime cost of owning and operating motor vehicle.

Jim

 

Cheap Ride,

Not trying to bust your chops, but are you a statistician? Although statistics may be called a science, it is more an art. Just like any art, its beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

My point is they claim 106,000 accidents, 93,000 non fatal injuries and $347 million in property damage (such nice specific numbers) avoided by the use of side marker lights. They make it sound like FACT! This is a predicted number based on all the info they gather. Unfortunately the method of gathering can actually influence those numbers. Different statisticians can come up with wildly varying results. Did they actually interview 106,000 people and ask them if the side marker lights helped them avoid an accident?

I took statistics in college. They lost me when the professor actually said "sometime two plus two can equal three or even five, depending on the circumstances involved."

More often than not, statistical evidence is put forward as "fact", especially when the results match that entities agenda. Damn Neilson's statistical evidence constantly cancels my favorite TV shows. Who are these Neilsons? Has anyone really met one?

"I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it any more!" Rant over! Nothing personal, Peace and Love everybody

 

I got it.......although it has been proving the DOT tape required on semis has been very helpful preventing accidents at night when a slow moving semi pulls out onto the roadway while making a turn. People have plowed into the sides of them because they didn't see the trailer. I can't see side marker lts on cars having much of an affect, unless it is a limo....lol

 

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Thanks Doc, I am not saying the side marker lights are bad, just the way people use statistics to prove points. They could have been just as effective using common sense to say that accidents and injuries could be avoided by using them. Sure hate to be the 106,001 statistic! LOL

 

Thanks Cody, Your white Coupe is one of my favorites. Nice to hear from you.

 

In a word....SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK.

Edited to show that I meant the good sick, not the bad sick :P

 

I hear Priuses have VERY visible tail and side marker lights...but then again so does the Camry.

(Forum vets know what's coming)

...But I never daydreamed about owning a Camry.

 

Its the government for C--- sake. They are experts at jumbling numbers to get the results that prove their point. They hire thousands of people to tinker wth numbers until they have what they want. I mean, "...we have created or saved xxxxx thousand jobs ..." Where did they get the numbers? Generally they get these kinds of numbers by ignoring reality.

Now I gotta tell you how many times side marker light have saved me from broadsiding another car .. let me think ....

I'm still thinking ...

 

Sidemarkers didnt prevent someone from broadsiding my wife a few years back.... and she was in a 20 foot long white F250 with a shell.... its as big as a freaking bus! The other driver said...... 'I didnt see you' doh!

 

Thanks bro!

 

I only have one question, what does A.J.P. stand for, I'm from Canada and it is not familiar.
I wondered if we should show you more respect because you have that handle or if we should razz you for it.

If you are to modest to tell me maybe someone else will enlighten me.

 

As an old, crusty ex-marine once told me, "Figures don't lie, but liars figure'".


Cheap Ride:

I also find your numbers hard to accept. I prefer to use James Burke's analysis from "The day the Universe Changed". I will paraphrase him.

When you do your research (not YOU specifically, but you get the idea), you use instruments, statistics, procedures, etc. that you develop. You then gather your raw data and sift thru it looking for your answer.

Problem is, this wasn't really "raw data"- it was what you went looking for when you started! Just like the "cranial caliper" - used in a time when it was believed brain size (and therefore skull size) determined intelligence. Or take the case of "Piltdown Man" - a faked "missing link" between man and ape. Science fell for the hoax NOT because scientists were stupid, but because they were EXPECTING to find the "missing link".

I say, the same goes for your highly suspect numbers. (Not that they are YOUR numbers.) Sounds like someone WANTED to prove the usefullness of the very pretty but basically silly side marker lights.


But on topic: I like the modded lights. Let 'em get hot - these cars are hot so what does it matter?

 

Hello everyone. I finally got around to taking a night-time picture. I hope you enjoy!
Night:


Day:

 

Same way they come up with the "Jobs Saved" cr@p!


That said
I do like them, especialy on the car that hangs just outside your peripheal vision at night on the interstate.