§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further statement on the result of the recent European Court judgment with particular reference to the question of whether dim-dip devices should still be fitted to motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyI refer the hon. Member to my reply of Tuesday 12 July, at columns140–41.
The requirement for all new cars to have dim-dip devices will be waived only where a vehicle fully meets the requirements of the EC vehicle lighting installation directive (76/756/EEC) and has a headlamp-levelling device.
The object of both types of device is to cut road accidents by enabling the headlights to be used to make the vehicle fully visible without dangerous dazzle. This is particularly important in towns where the interaction between street lights and vehicle lights can create hazards, especially on wet roads.
The advantage of the dim-dip system is that it is cheaper, always automatic rather than at the driver's discretion, and not dependent on the very precise initial setting for full effectiveness. I believe it will be in the interests of road safety, as well as to the advantage of manufacturers, car owners and other road users for all new cars to continue to be fitted with dim-dip devices.
Unlike other countries we have not made it directly illegal to drive on side lights. It is better to have self-working dim-dip.
We shall shortly be consulting in the usual way on the draft Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations to give effect to this judgment.