DaytimeLights - epetition reply
9 February 2007
We received a petition asking:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to ensure the continued safety of users of motorcycles and scooters by fighting EU proposals to introduce daytime running lights on motorcars."
Read the Government's response
The UK Government is opposed both to mandatory daytime dipped headlamp use and to mandatory dedicated daytime running light (DRL) use (except where required by poor visibility, eg fog) for a number of reasons. These include questions over the safety of vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists, pedal cyclists and pedestrians. Other concerns are the accuracy of overall cost: benefit analysis figures, increased motoring expenses and increased carbon dioxide emissions.
The European Commission (EC) has been discussing daytime headlamp use and DRLs with Member States for quite some time. Research has been carried out into daytime headlamp use, as an aid to vehicle conspicuity: there are arguments both for and against. There are also arguments for and against the use of dedicated, low wattage DRLs (rather than dipped-beam head-lamps) which could be provided or mandated for new vehicles.
Mandatory daytime headlamp use or dedicated DRLs could have an adverse impact on the relative daytime conspicuity of vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists, who are not illuminated. In addition, motorcyclists currently make themselves more conspicuous in daytime (on a voluntary basis) by using dipped beam headlamps. If all vehicles were illuminated, this advantage might reduce or disappear altogether.
The costs of additional fuel expenses and pollution effects also need to be taken into account. The EC estimates, for instance, that the compulsory use of DRLs across the Union would lead to a 1.5% rise in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
The UK's response to the recent EC consultation on this subject highlighted these concerns. The UK's reply was informed by a study of the EC analysis, commissioned by the Department for Transport. The results support the view that the benefits have been over estimated while the additional costs to motorists have been underestimated.
Further to its consultation, recent discussions with the EC now lead us to conclude that it may not press for early adoption of mandatory daytime running lights. It is expected to reconsider the proposals during the coming year. In the meantime, the Department for Transport will continue to hold further talks with the EC to reiterate our main concerns.
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