daylights

Our latest campaign is against the threat that all vehicles will be compelled to show daytime lights. For motorcycles this would most probably mean compulsory, probably hard wired, headlights.

Why is this happening? Apparently the EU Comission wanted car manufacturers to make the front of vehicles more "pedestrian friendly" so if you got hit by a car you have reduced injuries. The manufacturers did not want the expense of this so proposed the much cheaper alternative of hardwiring the headlights so that pedestrians could see vehicles coming and not walk in front of them! So a deal is being hatched by totally unelected bodies which will affect us all without anyone getting a say.

Unfortunately for them MAG has found out and dispatched their lobbyists to Europe.
In the meantime local groups are being encouraged to raise awareness of the issue and make representations to their MP and MEPs.

On October 5th West Oxon MAG officers Rob Easthope (Rep) and Debbie Raven (Media) went to see Mr. David Cameron (MP.con). He was very interested in what we had to say and promised to find out the position of the government and of his own party. He also said that he would contact a local MEP who had expertise in this area.

At a MAG meeting prior to this we came up with ten reasons why daytime lights are a bad idea. These are reproduced below. Please feel free to reproduce these and contact your MP/MEP/etc.

There has also been a proposal for a demo on this issue. Watch this space!

Ten Objections to Compulsory Daytime Headlights

1. Depth and speed perception.
It has been demonstrated that it is harder to accurately judge the distance and speed of approaching lights.

2. Emergency vehicles.
If all vehicles are lit up during the day will the lights on approaching emergency vehicles be easily recognised?

3. Environmental impact.
Apart from concerns over "light pollution" it has been calculated that daytime lights will increase fuel consumption by up to two percent. This will add significantly to Britain�s fuel bill and exhaust emissions.

4. Bulb usage.
Headlight bulbs will need to be replaced more frequently. How many drivers will be tempted to delay replacing a bulb, thus making their vehicle less visible at night?

5. "Flashing".
When an approaching motorcycle goes over a bump it can appear to be flashing its headlight. Many road users wrongly interpret this as a signal to pull out into a road. Such confusions have, and will, contribute to increased accidents.

6. Dazzle.
Even in daylight headlights can dazzle from the front and rear. This is especially so with the increased number of "people carrier" type vehicles which have their lights mounted higher up, often in the direct line of sight of other road users.

7. Reduced silhouette.
The headlight of a motorcycle can easily merge with sunlight or other vehicle lights from behind, reducing its visible silhouette.

8. Complacency.
Road users will begin looking only for lights, rather than for other road users. Cyclists and pedestrians would be lost in a sea of lights.

9. Insurance implications.
How would insurers respond if a driver chooses not to use headlights during the day (where the driver still has control over the light switch)?

10. Other countries.
Other countries such as Australia have tried compulsory daytime lights and found them to have no effect in reducing accidents.