(BRUSSELS) - Automakers will be required to equip new car models throughout the European Union with special daytime lights from 2011 in a bid to cut down on road accidents, the European Commission announced Wednesday.

"The introduction of daytime running lights for cars, trucks and buses makes them more visible, which will increase road safety," said commission vice-president Guenter Verheugen.

The commission hopes the move will cut deadly road accidents in Europe by three percent to five percent and total collisions by 15 percent.

"This will make a positive contribution to our goal of reducing fatalities on European roads whilst being more fuel efficient then existing lights," Verheugen said.

The special lamps are automatically switched on when the car engine is started.

"They substantially increase the visibility of motor vehicles to other road users, and have a low energy consumption compared to existing dipped-beam head lamps," the commission said in a statement.

When it gets dark, drivers will still have to switch on their regular driving lights manually. When this occurs, the daytime lights will go out.

In Scandinavian countries where use of the lights is already obligatory on the roads, the effect on road safety has been "very positive," it added.

The rules will only apply to new models of cars and trucks which are introduced from 2011, rather than all new cars.

"We didn't want to put too much burden on manufacturers," an EU expert said.

The mandatory introduction of the lights received unanimous approval during talks with member states, industry and non-governmental organisations, the commission said.

Under the plans, all new types of passenger cars and small delivery vans will have to be equipped with the daytime safety lights from February 7, 2011. Trucks and buses will have to do the same 18 months later, in August 2012.

So as not to cause confusion with motorbikes, which already need to have the lights in Europe, the car and truck daytime lights will be different in direction and strength.

The Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations, which had opposed the introduction of the lights in cars, said it no longer did due to the stated differences.

The new requirement is expected to raise car prices by a maximum of some 150 euros (220 dollars) and cause a small rise in petrol consumption, experts in Brussels said.

Automotive Industry - Safety - European Commission

Text and Picture Copyright 2008 AFP. All other Copyright 2008 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable.