Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement today is about daytime headlights. Mr. Speaker, last year this Assembly passed a headlights bill, which made it mandatory to have headlights on at all times on our highways. During the winter, not much was said because we have so much darkness. Now that we are getting more light every day and some police officials are starting to enforce the law, there are some people starting to complain. I just wanted to remind everyone why it is important to have headlights on during the day. Studies show that having headlights on reduces accidents. A Saskatchewan study showed 24 percent less accidents concerning pedestrians where daytime running lights were made mandatory. This means that one out of four accidents with pedestrians were averted. Similarly in Saskatchewan from 1982 to 1989, two vehicle crashes in the daytime were reduced by 28 percent after they introduced daytime running lights. In Finland, the use of daytime running lights in rural areas reduced daytime collisions by 27 percent. In Sweden, the use of daytime running lights reduced daytime collisions by 11 percent.
Mr. Speaker, if a vehicle has its lights on, it is easier to notice that vehicle in your side vision. It is particularly helpful for children and elderly people when they are trying to cross the streets. Currently, they have problems discerning how far away vehicles are and having headlights on helps them to tell if it is safe to cross or not. At this time of the year, cool temperatures bring blinding sunlight and increases your chances of seeing a vehicle coming at you in the sunlight if that vehicle has its lights on. Mr. Speaker, I know that it can be an effort for those who do not have automatic lights, but I also believe that it is worth it if it helps even one person from having an accident. Thank you.
-- Applause