MOTORISTS may be forced to switch on their headlights when driving in daylight under European proposals aimed at improving road safety.

The European Commission wants all EU states to set a common date for making daytime running lights mandatory. It is also proposing that all new cars be fitted with lights that turn on automatically whenever the engine is started.

It claims that this will save between 1,200 and 2,000 lives a year across the EU, because cars will be more conspicuous to vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.

The Government opposes the idea, but admitted this week that it was losing the argument and would be unable to veto a European directive.

Stephen Ladyman, the road safety minister, said that the move could result in more motorcyclists being killed. Motorcyclists tend to use their headlamps during the day to mark them out in traffic.

Speaking in a Commons road safety debate this week, Mr Ladyman said: “Because motorcycles use daytime running lights, they have greater visibility than they would do if everyone used such lights.

“Given that one of the most serious problems that we face in this country is to bring down sharply the stubborn rate of motorcyclist fatalities, we cannot afford to compromise an important safety concern for motorcyclists.”

But the minister added that he had been unable to persuade his counterparts in other countries to vote against the Commission’s proposal.

“I am increasingly pessimistic. The tide is running against me. A number of powerful states believe that it is a good idea. I believe that they think that it is a panacea and an easy solution to which their public will not object and which will help to reduce their casualty statistics,” Mr Ladyman said.

“I do not think that it will reduce their casualty statistics, but it will affect our casualty statistics. I will continue to fight the good fight, but I cannot promise that I will win.”

The Government is also concerned that daytime running lights would increase fuel consumption and pollution.

Motoring groups claim that fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions increase by 3 per cent when drivers use dipped lights.

The Commission claims that dedicated daytime running lights, such as those found on Volvos and Saabs, would increase fuel consumption by only 0.3 per cent.

The dedicated lights use separate bulbs that are less bright than headlights.

The Commission said 14 of the 25 EU member states already require drivers to use daytime running lights. However, most of them are in northern Europe where the days are much shorter in winter.

Some countries compromise by requiring lights to be used in daytime only during the winter months.

The Commission’s consultation paper on the issue concedes: “The benefits of daytime running lights are likely to be greater at latitudes further away from the Equator.”

But it adds: “Contrary to widespread fears, the fact that cars are using daytime running lights does not seem to diminish the effect of any motorcyclist’s daytime lights. There have been numerous experiments under laboratory conditions and field experiments that corroborate that finding.”

The Motorcycle Action Group said that the proposal was being supported by many European politicians because it was cheaper than forcing manufacturers to redesign car fronts to make them less lethal to pedestrians.

Ian Mutch, the group’s president, said: “This is EU lunacy at its cynical worst and a red herring that distracts attention from the real causes of accidents between cars and vulnerable targets, such as motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians.”

Mike Nattrass, the UK Independence Party MEP, said: “If other countries want to force drivers to use lights in broad daylight that’s up to them, but they shouldn’t be forcing us to do it.

“A good compromise would be to require sensors in all new cars so that the headlamps come on when the light falls below a certain level.”

The European Parliament’s transport committee voted in favour of mandatory daytime running lights this week.

A final vote by member states, which will be decided by qualified majority voting, is expected by the end of the year. The directive, if agreed, could come into force within three years.

WHEN TO LIGHT UP AROUND EUROPE

DENMARK
Where All roads
When All year

ESTONIA
Where All roads
When All year

FINLAND
Where All roads
When All year

ITALY
Where Motorways and outside urban areas
When All year

LATVIA
Where All roads
When All year

LITHUANIA
Where All roads
When November to March

AUSTRIA
Where All roads
When All year

POLAND
Where All roads
When October to February

PORTUGAL
Where Indicated roads
When All year

SWEDEN
Where All roads
When All year

SLOVAKIA
Where All roads
When October to March

SLOVENIA
Where All roads
When All year

CZECH REPUBLIC
Where All roads
When All year

HUNGARY
Where Outside urban areas
When All year