Parking lights are for PARKING!!!

randym431

Golden Member
Jun 4, 2003
1,270
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One real peeve I have is with people that think "parking lights" are somehow a "dusk to dawn" option. Its not dark enough to use the head lights yet, so they drive with their parking lights on. They think THATS what they were made for? Parking lights are just that, for parking! This seems to be a real problem, and I'd think totally illegal. (should be)
 

myusername

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2003
5,046
0
0
Whenever you come across one of these people, just drive in such a fashion that they will feel that their health is in immediate jeopardy because OMG you didn't see them :)

Edit: yes, it's illegal, and yes, the cops even do it themselves, and no, no one ever gets cited for it.

Edit2: Edit1 refers to the driving with parking lights, not the act of trying to run such drivers off the road.
 

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
36,052
17
81
I drive at night w/o the head lights on on several occasion in the old car. Meh.
 

Black88GTA

Diamond Member
Sep 9, 2003
3,430
0
0
Meh...I sometimes drive with parking+fog lights on when it's not real dark yet or gloomy. Ever since some dumbass hit me on a gloomy day because he "didn't see me."

My car has pop-up headlights, and I try to put as little wear and tear on those pop up motors as possible. They are notorious for going bad, and I don't have the time to tear them apart and fix them when / if they do break.
 

gopunk

Lifer
Jul 7, 2001
29,239
2
0
didn't know it was illegal... i just do it so that my car is more visible to other drivers... and also, if i'm driving in a tunnel, it helps me see my dash better
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
427
126
tbqhwy.com
Originally posted by: gopunk
didn't know it was illegal... i just do it so that my car is more visible to other drivers... and also, if i'm driving in a tunnel, it helps me see my dash better

same
 

Yzzim

Lifer
Feb 13, 2000
11,990
1
76
don't you mean dawn to dusk? (AKA: when it's light out?)

dawn = sunrise

dusk = sunset

correct?
 

sharkeeper

Lifer
Jan 13, 2001
10,886
2
0
Parking lights denote a (drumroll) PARKED VEHICLE.

Most people will say they use them when it's foggy or raining. sigh.

I used to hit the streets with the mic and ADAT and ask people in the parks questions like "What's colder: 22 degrees in Baltimore or 22 degrees in Minnesota. Out of perhaps 25 people only ONE got it right. Now that is progress folks!
 

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
Originally posted by: Sukhoi
It is illegal to drive with parking lights on.

It's illegal to drive with them in lieu of headlights during times in which your headlights should be on. I don't think it's illegal to drive with them on during the day..

Originally posted by: Kvaerner Masa
Parking lights denote a (drumroll) PARKED VEHICLE.

Most people will say they use them when it's foggy or raining. sigh.

I used to hit the streets with the mic and ADAT and ask people in the parks questions like "What's colder: 22 degrees in Baltimore or 22 degrees in Minnesota. Out of perhaps 25 people only ONE got it right. Now that is progress folks!

I don't leave my lights on when I'm parked. I don't know anyone who does..
 

DaiShan

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
9,617
1
0
Originally posted by: randym431
One real peeve I have is with people that think "parking lights" are somehow a "dusk to dawn" option. Its not dark enough to use the head lights yet, so they drive with their parking lights on. They think THATS what they were made for? Parking lights are just that, for parking! This seems to be a real problem, and I'd think totally illegal. (should be)

What do you mean not dark enough for head lights? I use them during the day/whenever I feel like it will make other drivers pay more attention to me. Why would you use your parking lights?
 

ShowdOWN

Golden Member
Sep 25, 2002
1,361
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is it also true that you are not suppose to drive with your emergency lights on? it is to be used when you are off to the side of the road?
 

Yzzim

Lifer
Feb 13, 2000
11,990
1
76
Originally posted by: ShowdOWN
is it also true that you are not suppose to drive with your emergency lights on? it is to be used when you are off to the side of the road?

correct :thumbsup:

If it's an emergency (IE: volunteer firefighter called in) you can use them I believe
 

Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
0
0
Originally posted by: DaiShan
Originally posted by: randym431
One real peeve I have is with people that think "parking lights" are somehow a "dusk to dawn" option. Its not dark enough to use the head lights yet, so they drive with their parking lights on. They think THATS what they were made for? Parking lights are just that, for parking! This seems to be a real problem, and I'd think totally illegal. (should be)

What do you mean not dark enough for head lights? I use them during the day/whenever I feel like it will make other drivers pay more attention to me. Why would you use your parking lights?

As in, it's not dark enough to need headlights, but dark enough that it's beneficial to have the interior instrument panel lit up....
 

DainBramaged

Lifer
Jun 19, 2003
23,454
41
91
Originally posted by: randym431
One real peeve I have is with people that think "parking lights" are somehow a "dusk to dawn" option. Its not dark enough to use the head lights yet, so they drive with their parking lights on. They think THATS what they were made for? Parking lights are just that, for parking! This seems to be a real problem, and I'd think totally illegal. (should be)

:thumbsup:

If I were a cop, I would pull those people over if they were relying on their fogs or parking lights for headlights.
 

Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
0
0
Originally posted by: DainBramaged
Originally posted by: randym431
One real peeve I have is with people that think "parking lights" are somehow a "dusk to dawn" option. Its not dark enough to use the head lights yet, so they drive with their parking lights on. They think THATS what they were made for? Parking lights are just that, for parking! This seems to be a real problem, and I'd think totally illegal. (should be)

:thumbsup:

If I were a cop, I would pull those people over if they were relying on their fogs or parking lights for headlights.

First off, they aren't "relying on them" instead of headlights, and you going to pull over how many people exactly? Also, why? Why would you pull them over? How does it affect you exactly?
 

DainBramaged

Lifer
Jun 19, 2003
23,454
41
91
Originally posted by: Insane3D
Originally posted by: DainBramaged
Originally posted by: randym431
One real peeve I have is with people that think "parking lights" are somehow a "dusk to dawn" option. Its not dark enough to use the head lights yet, so they drive with their parking lights on. They think THATS what they were made for? Parking lights are just that, for parking! This seems to be a real problem, and I'd think totally illegal. (should be)

:thumbsup:

If I were a cop, I would pull those people over if they were relying on their fogs or parking lights for headlights.

First off, they aren't "relying on them" instead of headlights, and you going to pull over how many people exactly? Also, why? Why would you pull them over? How does it affect you exactly?

Some people where I live do rely on there fogs or parking lights as headlights. Usually some pimped out car that thinks he is too cool to use his regular headlights. Why it would affect me is because it is a lot more dangerous. Finally, it's against the law, so if I were a cop, that is how it would affect me.
 

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
4
0
Originally posted by: loki8481
when in doubt, just turn your headlights on. who're they hurting?

Especially in the country, you are a fvckwit if you don't turn your headlights on all the time :|

It makes cars about a million times more visible, means that mirages don't mask cars so easily on long straights, and all in makes overtaking a vastly safer process ;)

Argue with that, fvckwits who have a problem with it ;)
 

Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
0
0
Originally posted by: DainBramaged

Some people where I live do rely on there fogs or parking lights as headlights. Usually some pimped out car that thinks he is too cool to use his regular headlights. Why it would affect me is because it is a lot more dangerous. Finally, it's against the law, so if I were a cop, that is how it would affect me.

Well, I'd agree if that was the case. If it's totally dark out and they are just using parking and/or fog lights, then they should be pulled over. I was speaking more towards using them when it's not dark enough to need headlights...