Brussels, Belgium – The European Commission (EC) has decided to introduce mandatory dedicated Daytime Running Light (DRL) on all new types of motor vehicles from 2011 on. The mandatory introduction of dedicated DRL was discussed in the EC’s CARS 21 (Competitive Automotive Regulatory System for the 21st Century), which has been adopted and which will require passenger cars and small delivery vans to be fitted from February 7, 2011 on, with trucks and buses following in August 2012.

Daytime Running Lights were mandated in Canada on all vehicles built after December 1, 1989. They are not mandatory in the United States.

“The introduction of Daytime Running Light for cars, trucks and buses makes them more visible, which will increase road safety,” said Günter Verheugen, vice-president responsible for enterprise and industry policy. “This will make a positive contribution to our goal of reducing fatalities on European roads whilst being more fuel efficient than existing lights.”