Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
New cars must have daytime lights
Daytime running lights on cars are meant to save lives on the roads.
All new cars manufactured or imported into the EU, including Malta, will have to be equipped with daytime running lights (DRL), which will go on when the car is switched on.
This technology is now obligatory on all new cars in all member states as part of the EU’s efforts to improve road safety. This is in line with an EU directive, approved some years ago and coming into force today.
Recent research on DRL shows that road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, can detect vehicles equipped with DRL more clearly and sooner than those equipped with dipped beam headlights.
On vehicles equipped with DRL, the light is automatically switched on when the engine is started. When it is dark the driver has to switch on the driving lights manually. In this case the DRL goes off automatically.
From an environmental perspective, DRL is an effective solution for improving the visibility of vehicles. As the technology is designed to be used during the daytime it is much more effective and efficient than existing lighting devices.
The energy consumption is approximately 25 to 30 per cent of the consumption of a standard driving light. When using LED (light emitting diode) for DRL, the energy consumption is reduced further to only 10 per cent.
The obligatory use of lights when driving, independently of the time of day, is already obligatory in a number of EU countries, particularly the northern ones where hours of daylight, especially during winter, is very limited.
In a statement, the Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani said daytime running lights would make an important contribution to the EU’s goal of reducing casualties on European roads.
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J.Barnes
Feb 9th 2011, 00:55
What an amazing role reversal, not long ago we were telling the East to loosen their grip on their people and end communism, to free their people! This thanlfully happened and the people of the East found freedom. Now we the West are following their old methods, - being dictated to via brussels where we can smoke, how our car is, right down to our politicaly correct speech! WE ARE THE NEW AGE COMMUNISTS, If we were to push for the rights of ourselves like we used to push for the East we would unaminously reject the dictatorship of the eu, - the funding of a third party government surplus to each countries individual one, to pay, home and transport these "mep's" to fulfill their role as twenty first century dictators. Our freedom is being demised as we speak.
Tony Gatt
Feb 8th 2011, 10:08
I brought my Volvo to Malta some years ago for a few weeks.
Volvo have had this feature for many years. In daylight. practically every motorist going the other way flashed me to let me know my lights were on!
Way to go, I suspect.
G. England
Feb 8th 2011, 13:10
I had the same problem when I bought my Volvo 2 years ago. Every driver flashed at me, it was so irritating. In the end I had to pay the importer to get them switched off. They are quite unnecessary in a country like Malta. This directive is applicable for northern European countries where the weather is gloomy more often than not . One glove does not fit all!
C Cassar
Feb 8th 2011, 13:47
@ G.England. Typical comments from someone who has absolutely no idea about road safety and new technology. Daytime running lights have nothing to do with "gloomy" weather or "nothern European" countries. In "gloomy" weather, dipped beam should always be used which are totally diffent to daytime running lights.
Research categorically shows that accidents are reduced when using daytime running light, sunny or not.
Only the uneducated will flash others with lights on during the day. They have absolutely no impact on a cars economy since todays technology uses LEDs. Using lights actually prolongs the life of the battery which thrives off being used.
Tony Gatt
Feb 8th 2011, 17:33
They might be unnecessary in bright sunshine but in heavy rain thy are vital. It seems to me that in Malta people do not switch their lights on until it is pitch dark- it's as if they want to save on electricity.
Wilfred Camilleri
Feb 8th 2011, 17:47
They'll get over it eventually! It's a safety issue and a bit of advertising by the government will inform everyone that this will be the norm in the future.
Joseph Calleja
Feb 8th 2011, 18:40
Mr England, if anybody needs DRL it is Malta. I suggested this a few years back and you are right, there were some negative comments made at the time. DRL lights are not meant for seeing but to alert the oncoming drivers that there is a car heading their way from the opposite direction. This is a safety feature and it is about time it went into effect. As a matter of fact I suggest everybody drives with their lights on day or night, it is proven to save lives especially on 2 way roads like Malta.