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A parliamentary debate on motorcycle lighting has earned the scorn of the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), which says the politicians involved need to get their facts straight.

Earlier this month, a European Commission proposal recommended that all vehicles should have to display some form of lighting during the day - a suggestion the MAG derided as a gimmick introduced in the place of genuine road safety reform.

It was therefore dismayed at a debate on amendments that could be made to this directive, with transport minister Stephen Ladyman claiming it would be better if only motorcycles were mandated to use lighting in daytime.

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MAG president Ian Mutch responded: "The minister is to be applauded on one hand for standing up for UK riders in the face of this EU demand for obligatory madness; however he does need to get his facts right.

"We appreciate that the EU seeks to harmonise many things across the continent, but when it resorts to harmonising stupidity we have to object. They'll be demanding that motorcycles are preceded by men waving red flags next."

His stance was mirrored by director of public affairs Trevor Baird, who claimed that the perception daytime lighting would boost safety is false and that most bikers know motorists will often be unable to see them no matter what lighting they use.

The MAG has argued that the problem is that bikers are being blamed for being undetectable on the road, when it is really drivers who should be keeping a better lookout for them.

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