Europe Looks to Improve Auto Safety
Things are looking bright in Europe, especially since the EU has introduced legislation that will require automakers to install daytime running lights in cars by 2011. The idea is to cut down on the number of accidents taking place abroad. “The introduction of daytime running lights for cars, trucks and buses makes them more visible, which will increase road safety,” according to Guenter Verheugen, commission vp (source newsinfo.inquirer.net).
The lights are intended to promote better visibility to other drivers and have lower then normal electricity consumption. The lights go on with the engine but then turn off when the normal night time lights are switched on. The legislation applies to new models only rather then on all preexisting models, this to alleviate any undo burden on the auto manufacturers, basically to make it easy on them.
Under the plans, all new types of passenger cars and small delivery vans will have to be equipped with the daytime safety lights from February 7, 2011. Trucks and buses will have to do the same 18 months later, in August 2012. (Source newsinfo.inquirer.net)
One major upside that I see, no pun intended, to mandatory day time running lights is that in inclement weather you will have greater visibility of others on the road. It always bothers me to drive in fog or heavy rain because I know that there are some people that just refuse to turn their lights on in these situations, adding to an already increased danger during these periods. I wonder if it will apply to things like dump trucks and car shippers?
