Infrastructure and planning director James Magee said council had updated its safe driving policy to encourage anyone driving for council business to use their headlights, even during the day.

“We’ve updated the plan so that it states that council employees, volunteers and councillors have to use the low-beam lights on their vehicles if they have them,” he said.

“This will be compulsory as a safety improvement and hopefully we don’t have too many flat batteries in the process.”

Mr Magee said studies had shown the benefits of driving with headlights on.

A US National Highway Traffic Management Report stated using headlights on low beam during the day reduced the number of incidents by six per cent.

“The use of headlights might also reduce the severity of incidents as breaking occurs earlier due to better vision of the approaching vehicles,” Mr Magee said.

“Therefore to minimise the risk of traffic accidents, employees, volunteers and councillors are required to turn on their low-beam driving light during daylight hours.”

Mr Magee said motorbikes were already encouraged to drive with lights on to make them more visible.

“We thought we would implement this and improve the safety on our roads,” he said.

Cr Tom Hamilton said all drivers should have their headlights on at all times.

“There are a few countries where this is already the law and it’s brilliant,” he said.

Cr Jean Wise said she hoped other shires followed Yarriambiack council’s example.

“This is fantastic for our shire to lead the way,” she said.

Cr Shane Roberts said using headlights during the day had been standard policy for the army for a long time.

“South Australia also used to have a campaign encouraging people to do it,” he said.

“This is probably something we can take beyond council – it should be a more popular practice.”