Sunday, February 10th, 2008
All new cars are to be fitted with automatic daytime headlights within four years.
The Government previously opposed the idea on the grounds that using lights in the daytime would increase fuel consumption and emissions, but conceded it was unable to oppose European legislation.
In response to a parliamentary question, Jim Fitzpatrick, the road safety minister, said: “The UK has been successful in arguing against the introduction of mandatory use of dipped headlamps during daylight hours by drivers of existing vehicles.
“However, from early 2011 all new types of passenger cars and light vans will have to be fitted with dedicated daytime running lamps in accordance with the relevant European directive. By summer 2012, all new vehicles will have to be so fitted.”
The move will anger motoring groups, which claim fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions increase by three per cent when drivers use dipped lights.
But the European Commission says that the lights increase fuel consumption by only 0.3 per cent because they use separate bulbs that are less bright than headlights.
The commission wants all European Union states to set a common date to make daytime running lights mandatory. About half of EU member states already require this.
Posted in Motoring & Driving News
Sunday, January 20th, 2008
Young motorists who break the law could be sent on “assessed drives” to improve their skills in a bid to change their behaviour behind the wheel.
A pilot scheme in Dumfries and Galloway would see drivers go for an hour’s tuition with an advanced motorist.
They would then report back to the procurator fiscal on the young person’s driving ability and attitude.
Depending on the contents of the report it could then be decided that there was no need for formal prosecution.
Depute procurator fiscal Lyndsay Hunter said the idea provided an important extension to the range of options.
She said that if prosecution failed to bring about a change in driving behaviour then they needed to consider alternatives.
The scheme will start in the Stewartry area and, if successful, will be rolled out across the region.
‘Physical risks’
Insp John Thomson, of Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary, said the key was to improve driver safety.
“The primary objective of any road policing policy is to reduce crashes,” he said.
He said that enforcement and improved road design had a part to play.
“However, we fully appreciate the benefits of heavily investing in driver education and believe that this scheme presents a positive means of reducing the crash rate in our area,” he said.
“Experience has demonstrated that there is a significant minority of young drivers who aren’t deterred by the physical risks or criminal consequences of high risk driving and it is these drivers that the scheme is aimed at.”
The scheme is being funded by Dumfries and Galloway Council.
The BBC
Posted in Motoring & Driving News
