The European Commission will make it mandatory for all new cars operating in the EU to run with daytime running lights from February 2011.

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According to a report in Die Welt newspaper, the measure is designed to make it easier to see vehicles and improve safety.


The law will apply to trucks buses eighteen months later, that is from August 2012.


Cars built before 2011 will not be subject to the rules and there will be no need to retrofit daytime lights.


Daytime running lights are special front lights that switch on automatically when the engine is started. They are less bright than night-time headlights.

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