The Austrian government decided on Wednesday that drivers on Austrian roads will no longer be required to turn on their car lights during the day starting from the beginning of next year. Using a mobile phone while driving will be penalized with 50 euros, instead of the previous 25 euros.
Starting from January 1, 2008, cars on Austrian roads will no longer be required to have their lights on during the day, as decided by the government in Vienna, which has also tightened penalties for using a phone while driving. Austrian Minister of Transport Werner Faymann refers in the decision to abolish the light requirement to a study by an Austrian institute and the conclusion that cars with their lights on emit more carbon dioxide."The study concluded that safety is not increased by driving with lights on during the day. On the contrary, under these conditions, two-wheeled vehicles and especially pedestrians are harder to notice," Faymann stated.
