| HEADLIGHTS ON – 24/7
 My
name is Lynette Newbey. I have been working within the Transport
Industry for 13 years and currently drive Road trains throughout
the north-west. During this time I’ve seen many accidents unfolding
on our roads, as I’m sure, so have many of my fellow drivers.
Most of us at some point in our lives will be
affected by - or involved in - an accident. Some people may get
hurt, or worse – the accident may have a fatal outcome. I am trying
to prevent any more of these unnecessary accidents
occurring. Have you noticed how many ‘crosses’
are appearing on our roads lately? Too many!
Over the years I've witnessed 7 serious accidents,
3 of which were fatalities. This is not nice and
so bloody unnecessary in a lot of cases. It is
because of this that I would like to see our laws changed to make
driving with your lights on compulsory. Whether they are
DRL's (Daytime Running Lights) or headlights. I've been driving
with headlights on 24/7 for years - and YES
- IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
My proposal is to see the Australian Design Standards
changed to make DRL's compulsory on both domestically-manufactured
and imported vehicles. Also to have older vehicles retrofitted to
run with their headlights on 24/7 (preferably direct
wired with headlight warning alarms so as to avoid flat batteries).
In Australia, our design standard laws have changed
over the years to accommodate the introduction of compulsory
seat-belts and air-bags. I view DRL's
as being another equally important Road Safety
issue. The Eastern States are looking to make DRL's compulsory,
but we need to make this a countrywide initiative and passed into
law as soon as possible.
 Please
bear with me and consider the following reasons for doing so:
• On open country roads, even on a sunny day, approaching cars
blend in with the road, due to trees overshadowing.
• Dark cars appear even darker and also blend in the distance.
• Light cars appear dark in the distance.
HEADLIGHTS APPROACHING - WOULD BE SEEN
• People don't think and then take chances:
If a flash of headlight was seen at a distance, be it 1,2 or 10
Km's away, then these chances might not be taken!
• On occasion, people do not come to a complete stop at stop
signs. They approach a stop or give way sign only quickly glancing
to the right as they do so, then if it's clear they keep going.
If we only ‘glance’ at something for a split second, our vision
‘will not see’ a moving object. It is only once your head has actually
‘stopped moving’ for as little as just 1 second, that you will focus.
(This may sound ridiculous, but it’s true. Think about it, try it
and you’ll see what I mean.)
• Intersection accidents: Glancing or not, you will see
headlights approaching.
• On open roads, people pass when they haven’t got clear visibility
over the hill or around the next corner. This practice results in
misjudgment, with varying degrees of seriousness.
• Winter always brings more danger to our roads.
• Driving in rainy, foggy or misty conditions...How
many times have you witnessed other people driving without their
lights on? Personally I lost count years ago and I ask you, “How
potentially dangerous and stupid is this?”
• To add insult, they then overtake in these conditions. With
very minimal visibility!
THEY ARE PUTTING YOUR LIFE AT RISK!
• Honestly! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE??
They have no thought for consequences.
In the past people have asked me, “Why do you
have your lights on in the daytime Lyn, can’t you see where you’re
going?”! Well, it’s not about me seeing so much, it’s about other
people seeing me.
 THIS
IS THE WHOLE AND ONLY POINT AND IT REALLY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
I realise there are other causes of accidents
and fatalities on our roads… however just on these points above,
wouldn’t having our ‘Headlights On - 24/7’ help prevent some of
these tragedies occurring in the first place?
Now…if you agree with me: I NEED YOUR SUPPORT
to get this law changed. There are petitions currently circulating,
although if you feel you could obtain a few more signatures, please
contact me anytime on: 0405 602 013 and I’ll send some out to you.*
The more signatures we acquire, the better. All petitions will then
be forwarded to the appropriate Government channels.
As time goes on, more and more people in Cars,
Trucks and Coaches are starting to use their headlights24/7
on metro and country roads, but it’s still not enough. This needs
to be practiced by everyone across the board to make it safer
for all road users.
Most of us have seen the “Headlights Save
Lives” signs out on country roads. Now as you travel 10 km south
of Geraldton, there has been a sign erected by ‘Roadsafe’ which
reads: “Headlights Save Lives. Use Low Beam During the Daytime”
Your Views
This comment was sent to me by another truck driver:-
"A few years ago we did an experiment
driving back from the Goldcoast out on the Nullabor"
"Using our CB radios, we measured
the distance how far back on the road one of us could see
the other - with and without headlights on - during daylight
hours"
"Even at 5Km we could see the
other car easily, but without headlights that distance dropped
to only a few hundred metres" |
This clearly says to me:
• The Government acknowledges that: Yes. There is a problem
on our roads.
• Furthermore they acknowledge, that by doing this simple little
thing, it may prevent another road death.
In my eyes, they are already half way there.
So why not take the next preventative step and make DRL's/headlight
usage compulsory?
To combat the problem of leaving your lights
on and flattening your battery - which most of us have done! - Headlight
Warning Alarms can be purchased and installed for as little as $25-00.
I have one question for the government and every
individual road user out there...
“Is your life - or that of someone you love
- worth $25-00… and the habit of turning on a switch?”
I’d like to thank you all for taking the time
to read this document. Ultimately, it may end up saving your life…
I SINCERELY THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
“Let’s Turn ‘Em On – 24/7” May
you all have a safe journey.
Yours in safe driving,
LYNETTE NEWBEY
0405 602 013
www.headlightson247.com |
