Daytime running lights ahead for UK’s cars and small vans

The move will have a significant impact on the fleet market as, in the UK, the majority of new vehicles are bought by business. And, it is being claimed the move could result in an increase in fleet operating costs.

The European Commission inspired move is designed to increase road safety by making vehicles more visible, according to EC vicepresident Günter Verheugen, responsible for enterprise and industry policy.

Dedicated daytime running lights are special lamps which are automatically switched on when the vehicle engine is started. When it is dark the driver has to switch on the driving lights manually. In this case the daytime running lights go off automatically.

They substantially increase the visibility of motor vehicles to other road users, and have a low energy consumption compared to existing dippedbeam headlamps, according to the EC.

Daytime headlamps have been a factor of life in northern European and Scandinavian countries for many years because of the shorter hours of daylight. But, the new EC directive means that the UK and many other European countries will have to follow suit.

Research reveals that safety can be improved by up to 15% by the use of daytime running lights. A study in the Netherlands predicted that would equate to 5,500 fewer fatalities and 155,000 less injuries, across Europe.

But UK-based pan-European fleet company Masterlease, which manages 210,000 vehicles across 17 countries, argues that such reductions can only be achieved if drivers are extra vigilant following introduction of the initiative.

Nick Brownrigg, chief executive of the Masterlease Group, said: “Daytime running lights are a sort of Harry Potter cloak in reverse – many people assume they will provide a cloak of ‘visibility’. Consequently, many drivers may feel that they can be seen by everyone and so subconsciously take less care than they normally would.

“Indeed, there is also an argument of ‘conspicuity’ for other road users – motorcyclists and cyclists who, according to safety groups may start looking for lights rather than looking at the true road conditions. If they don’t see the headlamps, they may assume they can simply pull out. We therefore all need to be extra vigilant to make sure this does not happen. Being vigilant and training drivers about daytime running light issues and conspicuity mitigates the risk of potential prosecution for corporate manslaughter.”

Meanwhile, amid concerns that the use of daytime running lights could damage the environment, the EC says: “From an environmental point of view, dedicated daytime running lights are an effective solution to improve visibility and conspicuity of vehicles. As the technology is especially designed to be used during daytime it is much more effective and efficient than existing lighting devices. The energy consumption is approximately only 25-30% of the energy consumption of the normal driving light.”

Nevertheless, drivers could be £160 per year worse off in terms of extra fuel required to power the lights around the clock.

Masterlease’s own figures suggest a rise in carbon dioxide emissions from between 0.5 and 1.5% and that a company with 100 vehicles each averaging 30,000 miles per annum with an average fuel consumption of 35 mpg at £5.50 per gallon could be looking at an additional fuel bill of between £2,300 and £7,000 per year.

Mr Brownrigg added: “Critics say the jury is still out on daylight running lights safety credentials and there is also a question mark over extra costs to fleets in terms of extra fuel used. But our argument is you cannot put a price on human life. We are supportive of any initiatives that protect lives on the roads. We can also overcome the extra carbon and fuel costs by eco or smarter driving which means we drive slower and make better use of the gears and better read the road ahead. This kind of vigilance will save lives, money and the environment now - not just after February 2011.”

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