Daily Mail article

[Alane]

Motorist would have to leave their headlights on all day or face a £60 fine under proposals by the European Union.
Officials want Europe to follow the Scandinavian example of mandatory day-time lights, saying it will reduce deaths.
Ministers however, say that not only will this result in more casualties on Britain’s roads, but the average fuel consumption of motorists will rise by three percent.

The EU plans need the support of a majority of member states to become law. Transport minister Stephen Ladyman told MPs he is “increasingly pessimistic Britain can stop the measures.
Andrew Howard, of the AA Motoring Trust, said polls show two-thirds of motorists would object. He added: “We would oppose any move to force existing vehicles to display their headlights during normal daylight conditions

[Alane]

Not sure whats happened to the last sentence!!! :Idunno:

Anyhoo, Are EU ministers the only people on the planet who don't know why Scandanavian head lights are on 24 hours a day?

School's a wonderful thing (especially Geography)

[biggmark]

load of crap really,consider that most bikers have lights on at all times and still u get cars pulling out of junctions in front of them,so dont know how they think that cars with lights on will reduce deaths???????,maybe they should be looking at the way junctions and roundabouts and roads are designed then look for solutions

[toiletduck]

I think I can just about manage to reach down and turn on my lights, so to be quite honest i'm not too fussed

[timm]

I think the fact you read this in the Daily Mail should give you some clue as to the likelihood of it being true!

[Snagger]

Pesonally, I think it's a good idea, though having the lights switched via the engine ignition circuits would be better. In good clear daylight, lights may seem unneccessary, but it allows drivers to to tell at a glance which cars are parked/inactive and which are running and moving. It also will prevent those idiots who drive round with little or no awareness of their surroundings from driving in poor light or bad weather with the lights off.

[Stumpy Doofleer]

I think I know why Scandinavian countries have the headlight rule, some of the roads esspecially in the north are very long and straight, so it is easier to see if there is a car ahead if you want to overtake someone, as it's quite hard to judge distances on a straight level road, especially if it's a few mile long.

[DEANO3528]

I think I know why Scandinavian countries have the headlight rule, some of the roads esspecially in the north are very long and straight, so it is easier to see if there is a car ahead if you want to overtake someone, as it's quite hard to judge distances on a straight level road, especially if it's a few mile long.

I'd have thought it more to do wth them being more of a nanny state than we are. They have more dark times than we do and woe betide the motorist that might make their own decision over when it's the right time to put the lights on.

[theoldtrout]

load of crap really,consider that most bikers have lights on at all times and still u get cars pulling out of junctions in front of them,so dont know how they think that cars with lights on will reduce deaths???????,maybe they should be looking at the way junctions and roundabouts and roads are designed then look for solutions

Interesting that the car that seems responsible for a lot of motorcyclists deaths and injuries is a Volvo, that has had day running lights for a long time, and comes from Sweden. [Straw poll among biker friends]

Angela

[Satancom]

Not sure where i sit on this.. I mean if everyone has their lights on all the time at least when conditions worseon you wont get idiots running around with no lights on as if it was a clear sunny day.

But then again bikers ride around with their lights on so they stand out! They wont stand out if everyone has lights on!

With regards to land rovers, if you cant see them when your pulling out of a junction i don't think a set of headlights is going to help the matter ehh

[Snagger]

The point is that you won't see any vehicle in fog, heavy road spray or night without its lights on, and every day I see (too late if something went wrong) vehicles driven without lights when they patently need them. There are a large minority of drivers who are oblivious to the driving conditions and vehicle status, which is why you see so many drive in town at night or in fog with no lights, or driving around in good night time conditions with the rear fog light on. If the headlights and normal tail lights were wired into the ignition switch, it would at least prevent one type of idiocy.

[Alane]

Law or no law there will still be those who drive with only fog lights (should be properly enforced) and those motorcyclists who prefer to ride on the wrong side of the road, usually with some form of Lighthouse spotlight attached to the front of it.

Timm, not sure how flawed the article is, it was a toss up between read that or the Star at work.
At least the Star has pretty pictures.:D

[Satancom]

Yes the large qty of cars that drive around with their rear fogs on does annoy me, especialy on the motorway at night. I got pulle din my younger days for driving with fog lamps on. Copper explained "there are two types of ppl who drive with their front fog lights on, people like you who think it looks good, and old people who don't know they have them"

Fair comment, gave me a producer and sent me on my way!

[graham]

Oh well if the EU say it's a rule our lot will obey :(

EU spit, spit, spit, goes off before a rant comes on :eek:

[Big Sandy]

Nothing worse than a Ovlov on a bumpy road...watch those lights bob...just like they are flashing you out of the junction. (and, before you ask, no I have never pulled out in front of one. Been pulled out in front of by one though....) Easy to see where confusion could begin though.

I am in favour of people being educated to put their lights on, many people don't. In the rain, or in dusk...they need to learn don't they?

Bikers...well, I remember a MAG article ages ago having the school of thought that the lights can actually make you invisible on bright days. I think it should be a personal choice. I always rode with mine on, dipped. You do see plenty of bikes with the lights on full beam during the day. Often plastic maggot pilots.

"Think once, think twice, think BIKE!" I remember the advert from the 70's, and I think of it every time I stop at a junction. The current one on the box at the moment is nasty...'at what point do you see the motorcycle? Here, here, or BANG'. Nasty. May work, and make a few think...doubt it though, that sort of ad doesnt shock any more, now that the populace are hardened to death and mayhem on the idiots lantern.

As a funny note... I was at the MOT test station a few weeks ago, and they were testing a newish Renault. Couldn't work out how to switch the headlights off. Yes, night sensors, put the head lights on as soon as it went into the workshop. They felt a bit silly....:)

[graham]

My Nissan has night sensors and for rain as well wipers come on auto.

More electrickery to go wrong :rolleyes:

[Geobloke]

Personally I run with Eva's side lights on whenever there is low light or the sun is low in the sky. I'd rather people see us than not!

[Satancom]

I tend to have my side lights on a lot, specialy now winter is closing in, Matt black landy doesn't stand out that well!