October 2001

Car deal may mean lights on for bikes

The Volvo V40 already has ay running lights (DRL),which Europe ’s car manufacturers and importers are proposing to introduce
The last time I discussed daytime lights and conspicuity in Lobby, the repercussions in Write Lines lasted for months with many correspondents missing the point about choice and instead concentrating on whether they considered the use of daytime lights to be beneficial. There have since been developments, but from an unexpected source. As part of a mooted voluntary agreement, Europe’s car manufacturers and importers are proposing to introduce day running lights (DRL) as part of a safety package primarily intended to enhance pedestrian protection. If it is agreed, Europe’s motorcycling manufacturers and importers will be introducing hard-wired headlights for all of its European market models. The BMF is acting through FEMA to change the situation.

Pedestrian protection for cars has been an increasing priority for the road safety lobby. New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) tests include occupant protection against front and side impacts as well as the effects of frontal collisions on pedestrians. While they have led to improvements in the former, pedestrian protection still falls short of necessary levels. Through tests, standards have been devised although compliance has been complicated by the varying sizes of pedestrians from small children to large adults. The main problem is that the victim’s head impacts on the car (usually the bonnet) after the initial collision in which, to lessen the effects of the impact, empty space is necessary between bonnet and engine parts. Manufacturers are concerned that this will make cars higher or reduce windscreen area, making them less attractive to potential buyers. It is notable that while pedestrians have been given the bulk of consideration in these deliberations, lip service has been paid to cyclists while motorcyclists have not been considered at all. It is significant that with side impact bars for the benefit of car occupants, newer cars may be more hazardous to motorcyclists.

In order to pre-empt legislation, ACEA, the representative body of car manufacturers and importers in Europe is proposing an agreement with the European Commission in which pedestrian protection can be more easily achieved by its members as part of a package of measures. At present this is an agreement offered voluntarily by ACEA to the European Commission which has not yet been accepted but which will be mandatory if agreed. The proposed measures applicable to cars include:

from 2005, the progressive adoption of more pedestrian friendly car fronts
from 2002, new vehicles are no longer fitted with rigid bull bars
from 2003, anti-lock braking systems are introduced for all new vehicles
from 2002, day running lights (DRL) are installed in all new vehicles


From a motorcyclist's point of view, the pedestrian protection measures may be of benefit but are probably limited due to their not considering for frontal impacts with motorcyclists and the fact that many collisions are between a motorcycle and the side of a car. More widespread use of ABS may be of value although risk compensation by motorists could lead to reliance on ABS for later braking. However, there are serious concerns about all cars having DRL installed.


Pedestrians are the main priority in a range of roposed safety measures by the European car industry
There has always been a question of what day running lights are, apart from the fact that they are automatically switched on with the vehicle's ignition. I had always considered that they were purpose built lights using a diffuse lens so that they could be seen rather than used by the driver to see by. However, the European Commission's communication on DRL has shown that it can be purpose-built day running lights as described, dipped headlights or dipped headlights with a reduced output as favoured by the Germans. This explains why Volvo has departed from permanently illuminated sidelights to headlights which light up with the ignition instead.

While there could be a case for motorcycles enhancing their conspiciuty with the use of DRL, it seems to be questionable for cars, which should be big enough to be seen with or without lights in good daylight. It is noteworthy that it was developed in countries where in winter, there are long periods of twilight. There have been some studies including Arora et al in Canada 1994, Koornstra in the Netherlands 1997 and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the USA 2000, used to justify DRL for cars. Stephen Prower has looked closely at them and considered them to be flawed in arriving at the conclusion that they enhance safety.

As well as the safety benefits of DRL for cars being questionable, it also has particular drawbacks. In the USA, in particular, where Volvo cars are imported and General Motors is increasingly using DRL in its domestic vehicles, an organisation opposed to day running lights has emerged on the basis that they can cause distraction and glare resulting in increased eye fatigue for road users. It is also argued that DRL will result in shorter lighting filament life and increased fuel consumption/pollution from the need to generate the power to keep them illuminated which do seem to be rather marginal. More seriously, from our point of view, vulnerable road users i.e. pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists will be obscured by DRL. Pedestrians and cyclists will have particular problems in standing out against such a sea of light since their ability to generate sufficient illumination is severely limited.

Most PTWs, at least have sufficient lighting which can compete with cars but any advantage from using them will have effectively been nullified and for those of us who don't consider daytime headlight use to be an advantage (like me) will be forced to use them. At one time Dutch and Danish researchers were recommending that two-wheeled vehicles used three lights in a triangle to stand out against cars with DRL and more recently, the use of coloured lenses to bring about a distinction between vehicle classes has been suggested. So, whether or not you are a believer in using your headlight on your motorcycle, more widespread use of DRL for cars will do us no good at all.


Occupant rotection has taken precedence over pedestrian protection

This proposal has effectively put ACEM into a corner. In response to the proposed agreement between ACEA and the European Commission, they have a conditional agreement to introduce an “automatic headlamps on” (AHO) specification for all PTWs from 2002. AHO is their term for hard-wired headlights which means that when the ignition is turned on the light will automatically be switched on as well and there will be no light switch. The reason given is to maintain the conspicuity of PTWs with cars but there is also a cost implication in which more and more countries throughout the world have lights-on laws for motorcycles and require hard-wiring. In the EU there are only three countries in which daytime lights for motorcycles are not compulsory. A more global specification can be adopted by the elimination of a light switch with commensurate cost savings to manufacturers.

The BMF believes that riders should have a choice although if the DRL element of the ACEA agreement is retained, daytime lights will effectively be forced upon us. Therefore, we are concentrating our efforts through FEMA on persuading ACEA and the European Commission to drop the DRL requirement from their proposed agreement. Support is being sought from Europe's cycling and pedestrian organisations as well. If we are successful, ACEM's AHO proposal will no longer be considered necessary. However, should it go through we should all be demanding a switch to be fitted as an optional extra for no extra charge on buying a new bike.

For those who cannot wait to tell Write Lines that we are wrong to adopt this line and that daytime lights are the best thing since sliced bread, do bear in mind that we are trying to give you a choice and that if you believe in the benefits of daytime lights we are trying to maintain the advantage which you perceive by preventing car DRL from obscuring you.

Published with the October 2001 issue of Motorcycle Rider
For further information, telephone 01442 396355 or write to:
The British Motorcyclists Federation, 14 -16 Briton Street, Leicester, LE3 0AA.
Telephone: 0116 284 5380 Fax: 0116 284 5381
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