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Few hauliers convinced by benefits of daytime Lights
Page 10
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By Joanna Bourke BEMUSED HAULIERS remain unconvinced that dedicated daytime lights have the potential to reduce the number of road deaths.
If the European Commission succeeds in its proposal — which, it says, will help reduce road fatalities in the EU by up to 2,000— new lorries will be equipped with dedicated daytime running lights by 2012 (Trucks may get daytime running lights', CM 3 July).
Ann-Marie Fegan, administrator for Fegan Transport in County Armagh, confirms using daytime lights is not regular practice.
The lack of faith in the proposition is clear She says: "Using them wouldn't make much difference. I can't see how it would help."
Even though studies claim the initiative could save between 3% and 5% of annual European road fatalities, Fegan is not satisfied that they are the only solution for improving road safety. "We are starting behavioural-based training," she reveals. "Teaching drivers about slowing down on the road, turning lights on when appropriate and being aware of the danger of a 44-tonne truck would be far more effective."
The units, which consist of two small lamps in the front, differ in direction and intensity from normal headlights. Fuel consumption could increase by 0.3% for normal bulbs and by 1% if LEDs are fitted. Elaine Cook is the accounts administrator at West Midlands
based GA Transport. She sees the scheme as hypocritical: "With fuel and the environment, it is save, save, save and cut back, cut back, cut back. This idea goes against that."
The proposal also requires dedicated daytime lights to be fitted to new cars and vans from 2011.
George Campbell is transport manager at Kenyon Haulage in Lancashire. He comments: "Some European cars have their lights on all the time. I would imagine this is done because statistics prove it helps to reduce the number of incidents and. ultimately, fatalities. We would always support any such scheme."
However, a majority of hauliers contacted by CM say most drivers judge when to use their lights according to darkness and weather, and that the size of lorries makes them highly visible.
Ray Coneely, general manager for Massey Wilcox Transport, based near Bath, tells CM he had already approached the Road Haulage Association suggesting trucks should be equipped with automatic sensor lights.
Cook of GA Transport supports his idea, saying: "New trucks could be built with sensors so the lights would go on automatically when it bens to get dark."
The daytime running lights proposal is currently in the hands of the European Parliament.
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