Yet ANOTHER crazy law brought to us by the idiots in Brussels -
EU plans for car headlights fines
by RAY MASSEY, Daily Mail
7th March 2006
Motorists could be forced to drive with their headlights on at all times under EU plans.
Those who fail to switch on could face fines of up to £60.
EU officials want drivers in all member states to follow those in Scandinavian countries where daytime lights are mandatory.
But British motoring groups have dismissed the idea as ridiculous.
They claim it wastes power, fuel and batteries unnecessarily. And they fear local authorities will seize on it as simply another way to raise revenue from Britain's 30 million drivers.
The European Commission wants its plans to become law by 2010.
Because transport policies do not require a unanimous vote by EU member states, Britain could be forced to adopt the measure, even if it objected.
The proposal follows the introduction of a similar law across several EU countries.
Sweden made daytime lights mandatory in 1977 - which is why Swedish-built Volvos always have their lights on.
Norway, not in the EU, followed in 1980.
Austria is the first west European country outside Scandinavia to make it compulsory for all vehicles to drive at all times and in all places with dipped headlights during the day.
From April 15 this year it will be enforced with a £10 fine.
A similar law comes into force in Croatia and the Czech republic from July.
Italy and Hungary require motorists to drive with lights on outside built-up areas.
In Germany, lights-on driving has been recommended since last year and in Luxembourg from this year.
Study reports 5,500 less fatalities
A study by Dutch researchers found daytime lights could save 5,500 fatalities and 155,000 injuries across Europe.
But the AA Motoring Trust pointed to research from Germany's Federal Highway Research Institute which found dipped headlights increased fuel consumption and exhaust emissions by 3 per cent.
An AA spokesman dismissed the proposal, claiming it 'smacks of nannying'.
He added: 'Motorists will be very upset if they are obliged to fork out yet more money in fines for using lights when commonsense and the Highway Code suggests it is unnecessary.'
The AA favours phasing in lightemitting diode lights - around existing light clusters or on bumpers - on new cars.
It believes this would produce a negligible increase in pollution while increasing vehicles' visibility and reducing accidents.
Andrew Howard, head of road safety for The AA Motoring Trust said: 'We would not support a requirement that cars not fitted with daytime running lights should be required to drive with dipped headlamps on at all times. As well as increasing fuel consumption, lamp bulbs have to be replaced much more frequently.
'It would also produce complaints about dazzle from many road users.'
Tory transport spokesman Chris Grayling feared Brussels was seeking to 'micro-manage' the roads.
'The EU is trying to take a decision that should be taken in Britain,' he said.
'It simply isn't necessary for the EU to decide on every single rule and regulation.' A European Commission spokesman said transport commissioner Jacques Barrot intended to publish legislation requiring car-makers to fit the energy saving LED daytime lights to future models as part of a target of halving fatalities across Europe by 2010.
dailymail.co.uk
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EU plans for car headlights fines
by RAY MASSEY, Daily Mail
7th March 2006
Motorists could be forced to drive with their headlights on at all times under EU plans.
Those who fail to switch on could face fines of up to £60.
EU officials want drivers in all member states to follow those in Scandinavian countries where daytime lights are mandatory.
But British motoring groups have dismissed the idea as ridiculous.
They claim it wastes power, fuel and batteries unnecessarily. And they fear local authorities will seize on it as simply another way to raise revenue from Britain's 30 million drivers.
The European Commission wants its plans to become law by 2010.
Because transport policies do not require a unanimous vote by EU member states, Britain could be forced to adopt the measure, even if it objected.
The proposal follows the introduction of a similar law across several EU countries.
Sweden made daytime lights mandatory in 1977 - which is why Swedish-built Volvos always have their lights on.
Norway, not in the EU, followed in 1980.
Austria is the first west European country outside Scandinavia to make it compulsory for all vehicles to drive at all times and in all places with dipped headlights during the day.
From April 15 this year it will be enforced with a £10 fine.
A similar law comes into force in Croatia and the Czech republic from July.
Italy and Hungary require motorists to drive with lights on outside built-up areas.
In Germany, lights-on driving has been recommended since last year and in Luxembourg from this year.
Study reports 5,500 less fatalities
A study by Dutch researchers found daytime lights could save 5,500 fatalities and 155,000 injuries across Europe.
But the AA Motoring Trust pointed to research from Germany's Federal Highway Research Institute which found dipped headlights increased fuel consumption and exhaust emissions by 3 per cent.
An AA spokesman dismissed the proposal, claiming it 'smacks of nannying'.
He added: 'Motorists will be very upset if they are obliged to fork out yet more money in fines for using lights when commonsense and the Highway Code suggests it is unnecessary.'
The AA favours phasing in lightemitting diode lights - around existing light clusters or on bumpers - on new cars.
It believes this would produce a negligible increase in pollution while increasing vehicles' visibility and reducing accidents.
Andrew Howard, head of road safety for The AA Motoring Trust said: 'We would not support a requirement that cars not fitted with daytime running lights should be required to drive with dipped headlamps on at all times. As well as increasing fuel consumption, lamp bulbs have to be replaced much more frequently.
'It would also produce complaints about dazzle from many road users.'
Tory transport spokesman Chris Grayling feared Brussels was seeking to 'micro-manage' the roads.
'The EU is trying to take a decision that should be taken in Britain,' he said.
'It simply isn't necessary for the EU to decide on every single rule and regulation.' A European Commission spokesman said transport commissioner Jacques Barrot intended to publish legislation requiring car-makers to fit the energy saving LED daytime lights to future models as part of a target of halving fatalities across Europe by 2010.
dailymail.co.uk
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However, British roads and motorways are already the safest in the world.
