Daytime lights for British cars

Under new European law intended to improve road safety, every new car and van sold in Britain from 2011 onwards will need to be fitted with automatic daytime running lights.

The practice of driving with headlights during daylight hours is common in Scandinavian countries where days are short for much of the year, but there are concerns in Britain that any improvement in the visibility of cars will be of principal benefit to other cars drivers and may be at the expense of motorcyclists and cyclists.

Daytime running lights

The EU believes that the lights could reduce death and injury on the roads by 3 to 5 per cent, but it is unclear whether any research has been carried out in order to consider the safety implications for road users other than car drivers.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Daytime runing lights are well-suited to countries with frequently foggy or dim light conditions, but it’s hard to understand the rationale for having them in Britain. Will this type of legislation end in pedestrians being required to carry lights at night?”

What is the ETA?

The ETA is a not-for-profit ethical organisation providing motorists and cyclists with carbon-neutral breakdown cover and insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport.