UK NEWS

NOW EUROCRATS TELL DRIVERS TO KEEP CAR LIGHTS ON ALL DAY

DIM IDEA: Road groups have hit out at the EU directive

Monday February 25,2008

By John Ingham Transport Editor

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(9)

MOTORISTS in new cars will have to drive with dipped headlights on during the day even in midsummer under a “barmy” EU directive, it emerged yesterday.

The move is going ahead despite Government opposition and fears for road safety.

Legislation – for new models of cars and vans from early 2011 and buses and lorries from the summer of 2012 – is aimed at bringing drivers in line with continental counterparts.

Critics say the law for day lamps – inspired by Scandinavian states where it is dark all day in winter – is “lunacy”.

They warn it could lead to a rise in death and injury particularly among motorcyclists who already keep lights on in daytime.

The latest example of EU meddling was revealed by Transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick in a written answer to Liberal Democrat Greg Knight.

Mr Fitzpatrick said: “The UK has been successful in arguing against the introduction of mandatory use of dipped headlamps during daylight hours by drivers of existing vehicles.”

But he added: “From early 2011 all new types of passenger car and light van will have to be fitted with dedicated daytime running lamps.”

Lib Dem Transport spokesman Norman Baker said yesterday: “This European Directive is not only unnecessary, but dangerous, particularly for motorcyclists, who will lose the advantage they presently have as the only vehicles regularly to use lights in daytime.

“It will also cause confusion for drivers between rear lights and brake lights. “The last thing we need is road safety compromised by barmy directives from Brussels.”

Though the death rate per mile travelled among bikers has declined 27 per cent in a decade, they are still 51 times more likely than car drivers to be killed or seriously injured.

The number of motorcyclists killed or injured in 2006 was 23,326 – higher than 10 years ago.

RAC spokesman Adrian Tink said: “Motorcyclists who use dipped headlights for visibility will not be able to distinguish themselves.”

He added: “Using daytime headlights also increases fuel consumption, creating additional costs for motorists and a negative impact on the environment.”

The President of the Motorcycle Action Group Ian Mutch described the directive as “madness”.

He said: “We’ve always been sceptical of the value of daytime headlight use but what is clear is that if there is any advantage to bikers in using them then that will be lost if all vehicles light up.”

Daytime running lights turn on automatically when the engine is started as they do in Volvos.

The EU says that the lights are used in 14 member states and scientific studies show they have a “high potential” to increase road safety.

THE EU AND HEADLIGHTS

25.02.08, 11:14pm

There is one advantage to having the running lights (not headlights) on all the time -you won't be stopped for driving without lights at night!

Regarding the Eurocrats, if you want to know about the machinations (and lying) of the EU, I recommend that you read "The Great Deception" by Christopher Booker and Richard North. It's an eyeopener. And no, I'm not associated with them, nor do I get any commission.

• Posted by: TheRealDelBoy • Report Comment

NOW EUROCRATS TELL DRIVERS TO KEEP CAR LIGHTS ON ALL DAY

25.02.08, 1:17pm

Haven't they got anything better to amuse themselves with - like getting the EU budget properly audited for once.

• Posted by: JohnnyB • Report Comment

THIS ARTICLE IS WRONG WRONG WRONG!

25.02.08, 10:40am

This article is saying that new cars will have to have dipped headlights, no they won't!

The article is WRONG WRONG WRONG the directive is NOT for all vehicles to have day time running lights or to have dipped headlights on.

It is to have dedicated lights on; as the transport Minister says in his reply in the article, which are diode lights, cars are already coming through with these lights fitted.

They will have to be dedicated lights, these will be low level LED lights fitted in the bumper.

See: http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/audi-s6-look.htm
the diode lights are in a strip below the bumper.

On the subject of seeing things have you ever noticed that no you are more likely to spot someone working without a silly Hi-vis vest on purely because they stand out. Best move is to get rid of europe and their similarly fascist bodies like the HSE.

• Posted by: Archi • Report Comment

DIPPED HEADLIGHT "BARMY" EUROCRATS?

25.02.08, 10:21am

Shouldn't these thick heads be sent to some mental institutions, together with those who support such lunatic ideas?

On one hand they talk about the impact on environment of the use of energy in manufacturing, and on other hand these idiots would encourage production of more batteries to power their dim witted brain lights!!!

They need their brains checked!!!

• Posted by: Nalin • Report Comment

DIPPED HEADLIGHTS DURING DAY

25.02.08, 9:37am

Most strange..where are all the tree huggers on this,one body tells us to switch the light off as you leave the room and now a body tells you to switch on when you get in the car. To run dipped headlights takes energy and this energy is supplied by fuel which produces global warming(oops sorry climate change) via exhaust fumes, and by using more fuel we are depleting the resources of the world quicker. The only people in favour is the treasury who see more tax in the additional fuel purchased, and all this because some unelected foreigner has said it MIGHT save accidents although it is usually the brakes and not lights that stop vehicles. As jaylee said his lights don't stop them hitting him but their brakes might!!!!!

• Posted by: Daveyboy • Report Comment

BARMY EU DIRECTIVE,

25.02.08, 7:54am

Why do we let the despicable Euro Super State keep telling us what to do? Why don't we just veto their barmy directives or just opt out of them? Beter still why don't we just leave the EU or hold a referendum on the subject? Despite vast number of people disagreeing with the EU monster nobody is doing anything about it. Come on Brown, do something useful for once. Stop the EU Super State meddling in our affaiirs. Get us out of the EU Super State before it finally destroys everything good about our country. If you don't have the courage to do it, give us s refereendum. Let the people decide.

• Posted by: Peter_Pan • Report Comment