The European Commission has decided to introduce dedicated Daytime Running Light (DRL) on all new types of motor vehicles from 2011 onwards.

Dedicated Daytime Running Lights are special lamps which are automatically switched on when the engine is started.

The Commission said 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. In countries which have already made DRL obligatory the experience in the field of road safety was very positive.

Vice President Günter Verheugen, responsible for enterprise and industry policy, said: "The introduction of Daytime Running Light for cars, trucks and buses makes them more visible, which will increase road safety. This will make a positive contribution to our goal of reducing fatalities on European roads whilst being more fuel efficient than existing lights.”

The EU directive, which has been adopted today, foresees that from 7 February 2011 onwards all new types of passenger cars and small delivery vans will have to be equipped with DRL. Trucks and buses will follow 18 months later, in August 2012.

On vehicles equipped with Daytime Running Light, this light will be 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.