Bob
16th September 2004, 02:48
The French Transport Ministry has recommended Daytime Running Lights (DRL) for all vehicles, with a national try-out to be held from 30th October 2004 to 27th March 2005.
The Federation of European Motorcyclists Association (FEMA) has expressed its reservations, as well as on the method used in a study undertaken by research institutes Swov and TNO at the request of the European Commission.
In 2002, FEMA, along with other vulnerable road users associations, stopped a proposal from the car industry to the European Commission to fit all new vehicles sold in Europe with Automatic Headlights On (AHO). Following that campaign, EU Member States declared within the Council Of Ministers that further research was necessary to thoroughly look into the effects of DRL on vulnerable road users.
At the request of the European Commission, Dutch research institutes Swov and TNO undertook a study (http://www.tm.tno.nl/product/res_vh_22.html). On the basis of tests carried out in a laboratory, the conclusion is there are no major risks resulting from DRL for vulnerable road users.
FEMA has questioned the results, as the tests were conducted in front of a computer to watch pictures involving at the most two vehicles. FEMA will be pointing out to the European Parliament that in reality, drivers and riders have to manage the handling of their own vehicle and also concentrate on a dynamic and more complex traffic environment, particularly in urban areas.
The Federation of European Motorcyclists Association (FEMA) has expressed its reservations, as well as on the method used in a study undertaken by research institutes Swov and TNO at the request of the European Commission.
In 2002, FEMA, along with other vulnerable road users associations, stopped a proposal from the car industry to the European Commission to fit all new vehicles sold in Europe with Automatic Headlights On (AHO). Following that campaign, EU Member States declared within the Council Of Ministers that further research was necessary to thoroughly look into the effects of DRL on vulnerable road users.
At the request of the European Commission, Dutch research institutes Swov and TNO undertook a study (http://www.tm.tno.nl/product/res_vh_22.html). On the basis of tests carried out in a laboratory, the conclusion is there are no major risks resulting from DRL for vulnerable road users.
FEMA has questioned the results, as the tests were conducted in front of a computer to watch pictures involving at the most two vehicles. FEMA will be pointing out to the European Parliament that in reality, drivers and riders have to manage the handling of their own vehicle and also concentrate on a dynamic and more complex traffic environment, particularly in urban areas.