The Lights on and Live program, an initiative of the Road Accident Action Group (RAAG) funded by Arrow Energy, will air on television and radio in Mackay and Moranbah again in February 2016. This project encourages drivers to turn on their headlights during the day to become more visible to other road users. Daytime Running Lights (DRL) are being fitted as standard to many new vehicles.
Research has shown that driving with lights on during the day reduces crashes. Arrow is particularly supportive of this program especially given the number of road accidents on the Peak Downs Highway, between Moranbah and Mackay.
Arrow has done a lot of work in managing the road safety of its own staff with real-time driver monitoring, our journey management centre, comprehensive driver training and a no mobile phone use policy. Arrow has contributed to fund this campaign and will evaluate its success.
RAAG, a group of individuals from state government, industry, community and local government, applied for campaign funding under Arrow’s Brighter Futures community investment program. that Arrow has supplied funding for an expanded “Lights on and Live” campaign not only in the Bowen Basin but also in the Surat Basin.
International research says that putting your lights on during the day will make you between 15% and 17% safer on the road. Not only do headlights improve visibility but it has also been shown to reduce dangerous overtaking by oncoming traffic. In other jurisdictions vehicle manufacturers have already embraced the daytime lights concept, and in several countries it has been made mandatory.
This Arrow Energy backed campaign helps promotes the use of daytime headlights as this will reduce road crashes. A survey was conducted in 2014 of all vehicles travelling east bound on the Peak Downs Highway East of Nebo, 51.5% driving with daytime headlights or DRL’s, survey conducted 3-4pm same day of west bound vehicles west of Nebo, 49.5% driving with daytime headlights or DRL’s.