Bernard Allen
Ceist:670 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he proposes to introduce the day time use of car lights. [21040/01]
Written Answers. - Road Safety.
The Government strategy for road safety 1998-2002 referred to international interest in, and experience of, daytime running lights, DRL as an instrument of road safety and stated that DRL warranted serious consideration in Ireland.
Following detailed consideration of this complex question, including research, the European Commission has recently included DRL among road safety priorities to be progressed at EU level. In a related development, discussions between the Commission and the car manufacturers representative group ACEA on a voluntary agreement covering the development of pedestrian friendly fronts on vehicles have reached an advanced stage. Among the complementary measures proposed by ACEA for inclusion in the agreement is the provision of equipment to support DRL requirements in new cars.
Against this background, Dublin Corporation, with the support of my Department, are planning to commence a pilot DRL campaign for the coming winter. I intend that the lessons from the pilot exercise as well as the views of various groups that have concerns about a general application of DRL, will inform decisions regarding the future promotion of DRL at national level.
Question No. 671 answered with Question No. 662.