Motorists must switch on lights during day, EU says
MOTORISTS may be forced to switch on their headlights when driving in daylight under European proposals aimed at improving road safety.The European Commission wants all EU states to set a common date for making daytime running lights mandatory. It is also proposing that all new cars be fitted with lights that turn on automatically whenever the engine is started.
It claims that this will save between 1,200 and 2,000 lives a year across the EU, because cars will be more conspicuous to vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.
The Government opposes the idea, but admitted this week that it was losing the argument and would be unable to veto a European directive.
Stephen Ladyman, the road safety minister, said that the move could result in more motorcyclists being killed. Motorcyclists tend to use their headlamps during the day to mark them out in traffic.
The Government is also concerned that daytime running lights would increase fuel consumption and pollution.
Motoring groups claim that fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions increase by 3 per cent when drivers use dipped lights.
The Commission said 14 of the 25 EU member states already require drivers to use daytime running lights. However, most of them are in northern Europe where the days are much shorter in winter.
Some countries compromise by requiring lights to be used in daytime only during the winter months.
Mike Nattrass, the UK Independence Party MEP, said: If other countries want to force drivers to use lights in broad daylight that’s up to them, but they shouldn’t be forcing us to do it.”
A good compromise would be to require sensors in all new cars so that the headlamps come on when the light falls below a certain level.
The European Parliament’s transport committee voted in favour of mandatory daytime running lights this week.
A final vote by member states, which will be decided by qualified majority voting, is expected by the end of the year. The directive, if agreed, could come into force within three years.
Via: Times Online