New Survey Pinpoints Drivers' Worst Fears of Driving at Night

LAS VEGAS--Nov. 1, 2005--Seven out of 10 drivers in the United States fear driving at night for reasons related to visibility, according to a national survey released today at the Automotive Aftermarket Product Expo (AAPEX). Nearly 40 percent of drivers polled fear hitting a person or animal, 23 percent fear not being able to see road markings and 9 percent fear their headlights are not bright enough.

The survey, conducted by SYLVANIA, manufacturer of SilverStar(R), a brand of bright, white high performance headlights, interviewed 1,000 adult drivers over the age of 18 by telephone across the nation during October.

Three-quarters of poll respondents (74.4 percent) said they did not know that all halogen headlights dim over time, as opposed to burning out instantly. Because all halogen headlights gradually lose brightness, they should be replaced in pairs and changed out at regular maintenance intervals. Changing headlights around the same time clocks are changed each fall delivers optimum performance when it is needed most.

More than 61 percent of those surveyed said they would change their headlights once a year if it meant they could drive safer at night with better visibility.

"Traffic deaths occur three times more often at night than during the day," said Laura Peach, marketing manager for SilverStar. "So, drivers' fears about not seeing adequately at night are well-founded," she added. For safe night driving, drivers should check their headlights periodically and replace them in pairs, as they would wiper blades.

High performance halogen headlights can help ease the strain of driving after dark and provide a greater sense of security on the road. SYLVANIA SilverStar high performance headlights produce a whiter light compared to standard halogen bulbs. Whiter headlights can help improve driver reaction time and make it easier to avoid roadside hazards. "When driving at night, SYLVANIA SilverStar headlights can help improve what you see and how soon you see it," Peach reported.

A study conducted by the Lighting Research Center at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, documented the safety benefits of whiter halogen lighting. The research concluded that whiter headlights help provide better roadside (i.e. peripheral) viewing, improved reaction time, and increased visibility for night driving safety.

The poll, conducted by Q-Search for SYLVANIA, interviewed 520 women and 480 men in the New England, Middle Atlantic, East North Central, West North Central, South Atlantic, East South Central, West South Central, Mountain and Pacific regions.

ABOUT OSRAM SYLVANIA

Headquartered in Danvers, Mass., OSRAM SYLVANIA is the North American lighting operation of OSRAM GmbH. Together we are the second-largest lighting and materials enterprise in the world, serving customers in more than 140 countries. We manufacture and market a wide range of lighting products, including automotive, electronic and magnetic ballasts, and precision materials and components for industrial and commercial users, original equipment manufacturers and consumers, sold primarily under the SYLVANIA brand name, but also under the OSRAM brand. OSRAM SYLVANIA also offers lighting systems installation and maintenance services. For further information, please refer to our Web site at www.sylvania.com