Carbon versus crashes – that’s the choice the Department of Home Affairs says is facing the Department of Transport.

In Tynwald this week, Rushen MHK Quintin Gill asked Home Affairs Minister Martyn Quayle whether the police and fire brigade normally used running lights or dipped headlights when responding to emergencies.

It was one of a series of questions relating to the practice and whether it should be applied to all traffic in the Island.

But Mr Quayle (pictured) said although emergency vehicles did keep their lights on, there was a balance to be struck.

John Moss reports (audio file attached):

Mr Quayle said the police supported using daytime lights as in other countries this had cut accidents by up to 21 percent.

He added the Manx fire and rescue service would also support such a measure as it was thought this would contribute to road safety.

But he said dipped headlights could present a dazzling hazard for bikers and cyclists.

And using daytime lights meant higher fuel consumption – and so more pollution.