In a joint position paper submitted to the Commission, ETRA and ECF oppose to the possible general introduction of daytime running lights on all motorised vehicles. The two associations believe that other traffic aspects are for more important than DRL for improving road safety.

 

ETRA and ECF do not want a European-wide introduction of daytime running lights (DRL) on all motorized vehicles. The two associations have argued this in a joint position paper, which they have submitted in response to the Commission’s consultative paper “Saving Lives with Daytime Running Lights”. In the view of ETRA and ECF, the paper does not contain sufficient scientific evidence that a European legal obligation for all motorised vehicles to use DRL will considerably improve road safety for cyclists and PTW riders.

 

The Commission’s paper is mainly based on the 2003 TNO study “Daytime Running Lights” – Final Report, which concludes that “the use of DRL reduces the number of multi-party daytime accidents for cars between 5 and 15%”. ETRA and ECF argue that, for this one study leading to a positive conclusion, there are a quite a number of other studies with a negative conclusion. What’s more, the study has no conclusive evidence of the effect of DRL on accidents involving pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Moreover, the influence of DRL on motorcyclists’ conspicuity has not been examined in the TNO research. Finally, the TNO study has failed to examine the effects of DRL on car drivers’ behaviour to vulnerable road users and motorcyclists. ETRA and ECF believe that general use of DRL may well reinforce the already strong position of four-wheeled vehicles in traffic, giving a psychological right of way to car drivers when pulling out in front of vulnerable road users. Therefore, the two associations plea for a thorough investigation of all these elements before imposing DRL throughout the Union.

However, in the opinion of ETRA and ECF, other traffic aspects are far more important than DRL for improving road safety. In the framework of the European Road Safety Action Programme, the Commission has listed the following order of causes of mortality on the road: excessive speed (15,000 fatalities), consumption of alcohol or drugs, fatigue (10,000 fatalities), non-wearing of seat belts or of protective helmets (7,000 fatalities). To ETRA and ECF, it does not seem logical that the Commission shows great interest in harmonising legislation on DRL, but does not see any need for harmonising for instance speed limits or blood alcohol limits.

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