A EUROPEAN safety body is calling for daytime running lights to be compulsory on all vehicles across Europe.

The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) is making the call following a study of safety in southern, eastern and central European countries, where road risk is higher.

But it is calling for daylight lights to become mandatory across the whole of Europe. It is one of 60 recommendations made to the European Commission by the safety body to improve the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycle riders.

It is calling for national speed limits to be properly enforced and the drink-drive limit across Europe to be no more than 50mg alcohol/100ml blood (the UK's is 80mg).

It also wants compulsory helmet use for motorcyclists and anti-lock braking systems (ABS) for motorbikes.

Announcing its policy paper, ETSC executive director Jorg Beckmann said: 'The execution of these measures at EU and national levels can substantially reduce the number if vulnerable road users' deaths all over Europe. EU legislation should therefore no longer be delayed, especially in the area of daytime running lights and infrastructure safety.'