EU announces plan for mandatory daytime running lights by 2011

Viknesh Vijayenthiran September 24th, 2008

By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Author September 24th, 2008

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December 31st, 1969 The European Commission has announced plans to make it mandatory for all new cars to be fitted with daytime running lights (DRLs) as standard from 2011, and on trucks and buses one and a half years later. Despite widespread opposition from carmakers, the issue was raised once again on the back of research conducted by the EU that shows DRLs could potentially help reduce fatal accidents by 3-5%. "The introduction of DRLs for cars, trucks and buses makes them more visible, which will increase road safety. This will make a positive contribution to our goal of reducing fatalities on European roads whilst being more fuel efficient then existing lights," said European Commission vice president Günter Verheugen. Carmakers are opposed to the ruling because they claim there is a risk that some drivers will forget to switch on their headlights at night. They also believe there could be confusion among road users between these lights and front fog lamps, reports the Telegraph. The use of daytime running lights also leads to fuel efficiency losses, with increases in fuel consumption of 0.5%-1% not unreasonable. However this is being reduced greatly by the increasing number of cars using LEDs for this function. The law is still subject to the approval of both European ministers and the European parliament, but it is expected to be passed unopposed as it is already backed by Robert Gifford, the executive director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety.

EU claims daytime running lights could help reduce fatal accidents by 3-5%

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The European Commission has announced plans to make it mandatory for all new cars to be fitted with daytime running lights (DRLs) as standard from 2011, and on trucks and buses one and a half years later. Despite widespread opposition from carmakers, the issue was raised once again on the back of research conducted by the EU that shows DRLs could potentially help reduce fatal accidents by 3-5%.

"The introduction of DRLs for cars, trucks and buses makes them more visible, which will increase road safety. This will make a positive contribution to our goal of reducing fatalities on European roads whilst being more fuel efficient then existing lights," said European Commission vice president Günter Verheugen.

Carmakers are opposed to the ruling because they claim there is a risk that some drivers will forget to switch on their headlights at night. They also believe there could be confusion among road users between these lights and front fog lamps, reports the Telegraph.

The use of daytime running lights also leads to fuel efficiency losses, with increases in fuel consumption of 0.5%-1% not unreasonable. However this is being reduced greatly by the increasing number of cars using LEDs for this function.

The law is still subject to the approval of both European ministers and the European parliament, but it is expected to be passed unopposed as it is already backed by Robert Gifford, the executive director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety.

Tags: Industry, Safety, government, EU

Posted in: News

By chris #1, Posted: 2/11/2008

again, as a younger Canadian who has lived with this kind of legislation all his life, I really don't get what all the fuss is about.

the technology costs PENNIES if anything at all, and like it's said, you don't exactly notice a drop in available power when you turn your headlamps on. so whats the argument?
By Alex #2, Posted: 2/11/2008

Who the hell care?
By Mike #3, Posted: 2/11/2008

I don't understand all the fuss. In Canada DRLs have been mandatory for almost 20 years. And I would say they are a great safety feature. Even on a clear day, you can see oncoming traffic from a much further distance.
By James #4, Posted: 2/11/2008

I absolutely support this legislation. I live in Latvia, where the same way as it is in the rest of Baltic states and all of Northern Europe, lights are mandatory 24/7. This law was introduced many years ago and I still remember that there was some public resistance. But now no one would question the safety benefit of this. I always feel strange and less safe when I travel with car in countries where drivers don't use lights during daytime.
By chris #5, Posted: 2/11/2008

james; i live close to the boarder with the USA and drive there frequently; i know exactly what you mean.
By ST #6, Posted: 2/11/2008

Sure DRL are fine... when not many people have them and that's when people notice them. But when everyone has them, it's like they aren't on at all. Why not start painting the cars in only florescent yellow and orange. Benefits...well, put it this way, I won't notice surrounding cars better than I already do. It's called looking around as opposed to relying on some bright object in your peripheral vision. Then again, govt hand out drivers' licenses like it was going out of fashion.
By HECTOR #7, Posted: 2/11/2008

I see that I am outnumbered here but...

DRLs are the evil brainchild of some retarded bastard/s. Far from being a safety tool they are highly dangerous to pedestrians and motorcyclists. There's absolutely zero convincing and proven evidence that they prevent accidents but then again logic tells me this without the need for fake studies.

But, by all means, shine braight high beam headlights in my eyes. It's not like I need my corneas or anything.

PS - if it's dark where you live... why don't you try turning on the lights for yourself? I live in a place where it's sunny about 90% of the year. Why must you force your lights on me? Next up: windshield wipers that are constantly on. After all, it rains a lot in Hawaii so let's force all cars to have nonstop windshield wipers, even if they're sold in the Mohave desert.
By Jason #8, Posted: 2/12/2008

DRLs are a wonderful idea, and the NHTSA should mandate them in the USA. They're less powerful than headlights, but improve visibility at all hours. The biggest advantage, though, is that it provides me some warning when bloody morons go driving around hours after sunset with *no lights on at all*. This seems to happen to me every few weeks, and several times it has been dangerous; if there aren't many streetlights, it's hard to tell that a car is there at all. At least with DRLs you would see some light as it approaches, even if the person is too irretrievably stupid to turn on their headlights properly.
By Duane Barber #9, Posted: 2/29/2008

I am amazed that none of the comments address the very real issue that the driving population is aging. With aging (40 plus) there are astigimatism / cataract replacement and CME conditions that are normally not an issue until the eye is forced to look at many cars in oncoming traffic all with various colors and angles of light. i.e. drivers are momentarily blinded during the day and the eye can feel real pain at night with the Xenon daytime lights yet on. The DRLs are nothing more than a fashion statement that is very dangerous to other drivers. Should some with common sense may want to put yellow markers below the.bumper at the corners and that may be helpfull. DRLs are amlost as usefull as the sun visor stickers that tell Americans the airbags do not work. Jason should realize that the automatic nightime lights are standard on most cars and turn on the tail lights also. His observation is not complete as The DRLs do not turn on the tail lights.
By Richard #10, Posted: 3/13/2008

Please note that GM convinced the US Government to let it use half powered high beams as DRL's. This has caused a flod of complaints about glare. These complaints are well founded. Canada has adopted the US requirements in this regard. The EU does not permit high beams for use as DRL's.
By John Cargill #11, Posted: 6/10/2008

I really support DRL use. I have them in my GM products and I really think they aid in driving because you can see them in front and behind you. Ford and Chrysler are to cheap to install them. I am trying to figure out how to turn them on in my 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT. So far it has been a struggle. I anyone knows how, let me know. It will make the vehicle much safer.
By Raymond #12, Posted: 7/25/2008

im all for day time running lights and i cant wait for the day that the USA steps up to bat and requires them on all cars. my 1997 dodge grand caravan does not have them but i turn on my head lights everytime i start the engine. TO John Cargill: take your 2006 caravan SXT to your local dodge dealer and find out if your mini van in canadian made. if so and your DRLs are not working its just a simple hook up to the vans computer to turn them on. should cost less the $40.00 to do the job. i belive DRLs are a wonderful accident saveing device and it makes all cars much more visable in most if not all conditions.
by HECTOR #13, Posted: 9/24/2008

Shoot me.
by Gus Chyba #14, Posted: 9/24/2008

I knew Hector would be upset.
by NoNameDenton #15, Posted: 9/24/2008

Personally, I do not see the point, but some studies say these things cause less accidents.
by www.mywheelsonwalls.com #16, Posted: 9/24/2008

I really cant see the problem here either. Also just because your DRL's are on does not mean your dash board lights are also on, so fogetting to turn on your lights at night is a mute point. Unless you can read dark gauges which in my car are illuminated by turning the head lights on, electro luminesent I believe they call them.

As for seeing cars better. With heat rising up off of black top I challenge you to tell me which car is easier to see in day light? Hawaii may have a rainy season but it also has heat just like the Mojave.

Unfortunately for some this is one of those issues where common sense and the feeling that government maybe to involved, skirt a very fine line.
by dcars #17, Posted: 9/25/2008

I've had them on all my cars as long as I can rememeber and can see any reason why they shouldn't be left on. Seams like a inexpensive way to safe.
by tache #18, Posted: 9/26/2008

if the VIN code starts with 2, than the car is made in Canada

I live in Canada, where DRL are mandatory and I'm changing my headligths bulbs every 6 months
By Edward #19, Posted: 8/24/2009

Another way to get DRLs is through http://www.automotiveelectronicaccessories.com. The kit runs just under $45.00 including shipping and handling. The kit works on any vehicle.