West Virginia drivers may not be aware that they could significantly reduce their chances of a car crash by simply turning on their headlights in the daytime. Several studies have confirmed that the use of daytime headlights increases visibility and cuts down on car accidents. Because of this, some traffic safety advocates are pushing for legislation mandating the use of headlights during daylight hours.

Currently, several countries require the use of daytime headlights and have seen a drop in car crashes as a result. For example, Denmark experienced a 37 percent drop in left turn car accidents after passing daytime headlight legislation, and Canada found that multi-vehicle accidents dipped by 11 percent after passing such laws.

U.S. automakers are not required to include daytime running headlights on their new vehicles, and only 27 percent of new vehicles come standard with the feature. Therefore, safety advocates believe that the fastest way to implement widespread daytime headlight use would be to pass laws. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, such laws would cost drivers between no more than $40 dollars a year, which is a small price to pay for the number of lives that could be saved.

Individuals who are injured in car crashes caused by negligent drivers may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit. Personal injury attorneys use police reports and other crash scene evidence to prove an at-fault driver is responsible for a victim’s injuries. If the suit is successful, an injured victim could be awarded compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages.

National Law Review, “Permanent Headlight Usage Shown to Reduce Car Accidents“, Jonathan Rosenfeld, July 17, 2017