Automakers will be required to equip new car models in the European Union with special daytime lights from 2011 in a bid to cut down on road accidents, the European Commission announced Wednesday. "The introduction of daytime running lights for cars, trucks and buses makes them more visible, which will increase road safety," said commission vice-president Guenter Verheugen.
"This will make a positive contribution to our goal of reducing fatalities on European roads whilst being more fuel efficient then existing lights." The special lamps are automatically switched on when the car engine is started. When it gets dark, drivers will still have to switch on their regular driving lights manually. When this occurs, the daytime lights will go out.
"They substantially increase the visibility of motor vehicles to other road users, and have a low energy consumption compared to existing dipped-beam head lamps," the commission said in a statement. In countries where use of the lights is obligatory on the roads, the effects on road safety have been "very positive," it added. The rules will only apply to new models of cars and trucks which are introduced from 2011, rather than all new cars.
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