Parking lights are for PARKING!!!

Page 4 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
167
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
Originally posted by: dionx
Originally posted by: jagec
Originally posted by: dionx
i always cut off people who drive with parking lights on in the fast lane that are slowing me down and i act like i never saw them. usually they flash their high beams at me, then i brake hard for them trying to act all tough. i like seeing them swerving out of the way either into other lanes cutting other people off or swerving into the shoulder or having their car dip forward or screech because they were tailgaiting so close. if they didnt want any problems for me, they shouldnt have given me any problems to begin with by driving so slow in the fast lane

/puts flame suit on

The general rule of a$$hole drivers is to tailgate people who drive "too slow" , and brake check people who drive "too fast". You make NO sense. I'm guessing you put BMW badges and Cadillac rims on your riced Honda, so you don't know WHAT kind of a$$hole you are.

if i were to tailgait someone and they slam their brakes for tailgaiting them, it'd be my fault no matter what. i wouldnt want to put myself in a position where i'd be at fault. therefore i never tailgate. what if i were to run into another person like me? it'd be chaotic.

and i don't brake check fast people. if someone is going faster than me, i'd move out of their way if i was the only thing that was slowing them down. i wouldnt get out of peoples way if they were moving fast from behind me, but up ahead is traffic anyways. i'm not the one slowing them down, the general traffic is.

people who brake check me, i usually cut them off and brake check them. they should just get out of the fast lane to begin with rather than brake checking everyone who wants to pass them.

Great. You just admitted in this forum that you drive recklessly. I hope one day, you slam on your brakes and cause someone to rear-end you after you have passed them. They, when they show up in court, they present the judge with what you posted online.

Tell you what: Pass a police car, pull into its lane, slam on the brakes and cause them to swerve or to rear-end you. I guarantee they won't perceive it as their fault.
 

TechnoKid

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2001
5,575
0
0
Originally posted by: Raduque
Originally posted by: dionx
Originally posted by: jagec
Originally posted by: dionx
and i don't brake check fast people. if someone is going faster than me, i'd move out of their way if i was the only thing that was slowing them down. i wouldnt get out of peoples way if they were moving fast from behind me, but up ahead is traffic anyways. i'm not the one slowing them down, the general traffic is.

people who brake check me, i usually cut them off and brake check them. they should just get out of the fast lane to begin with rather than brake checking everyone who wants to pass them.
Two points. First, brake checking slow people is counterproductive...it just sends them the signal that they are going too fast. True, they shouldn't be in the fast lane. But brake checking them isn't going to get them to switch lanes, it's going to make them drive slower. If you cut them off and brake check them, they might switch over a lane to try to pass you, but as soon as you speed up they'll switch right back.
Second, "fast lane" becomes very meaningless in the city during rush hour, since the exit layout can make the right lane the "fastest". If someone's blocking you in the right lane, do you cut them off+brake check them too?
Originally posted by: dionx
it's ok. i fall into the 18-25 single male category. my insurance is already adjusted for that type of driver. besides, my record is clean

The only reason your rates aren't twice as high is that some of us 18-25 single males actually know how to drive :|


they do switch lanes if i go slow enough since they try to pass me. but then i follow them so they cant pass me. not only am i vengeful, i dont forgive and forget easily

i dont brake check those in the right lane unless they are clearly slower than the flow of traffic


I hope a very large truck brake checks YOU someday. You're a sh1tty driver, and probably a sh1tty person. May you eat a bag of hell and die in a fire :|

A smaller, lighter car will almost always brake faster and in a shorter distance than a larger truck. That just physics. Now, as to wether or not you reaction time is good enough.....it'd probably have to be well under a half-second to make any good on the braking advantage of a smaller, lighter car versus a heavier truck.

I dont really have a problem tailgaiting a big rig, because I know that they brake well ahead of time (usually) and that they take a long time to brake, so being in a car, i have plenty of time/distance to brake, but not much time to react, though i'd say if my attention is focused on driving, my recation time to a 'rig braking would be well under a half second.
 

dainthomas

Lifer
Dec 7, 2004
14,921
3,901
136
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
I do it when it's a short trip at dusk or dawn because I have Xenon headlamps and they have a limited life, which is affected by turning on and off. I'm going to be keeping the car for a long while, so I try to protect it when I can.

I believe head-on collissions also adversely affect Xenon headlamps.

If you need to turn something on, turn on the headlights. It hurts nothing (other than maybe shelling out every couple years for new headlight. BFD)
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
Jesus, just turn on your damn fricken lights and be done with it. holy sh*t you people can argue of the stupidest sh*t.
 

Raduque

Lifer
Aug 22, 2004
13,140
138
106
Originally posted by: TechnoKid

A smaller, lighter car will almost always brake faster and in a shorter distance than a larger truck. That just physics. Now, as to wether or not you reaction time is good enough.....it'd probably have to be well under a half-second to make any good on the braking advantage of a smaller, lighter car versus a heavier truck.

I dont really have a problem tailgaiting a big rig, because I know that they brake well ahead of time (usually) and that they take a long time to brake, so being in a car, i have plenty of time/distance to brake, but not much time to react, though i'd say if my attention is focused on driving, my recation time to a 'rig braking would be well under a half second.


I won't argue the physics, that's a given. However, reaction time only really applies when you're paying attention. You may well be able to react quickly enough to get out of a semi's way, but this dionx guy sounds like he only pays attention to other drivers when they start to annoy him. In his case, if he's tailgating a semi and somebody cuts off the semi, and that driver nails his brakes(or even hits the jake, that thing can slow a bigrig in a HURRY), I'm willing to lay money that 'rig's trailer will end up wearing him.
I've seen it come close to happening. Some moron cut off a tractor trailer while merging from the onramp, and he hit his brake(jake and traditional). The car behind him wasn't paying attention, but was far enough back that he noticed the truck slowing before he became part of the truck's trailer.

 

Triumph

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,031
14
81
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Originally posted by: Triumph
Who the f&ck leaves their "parking" lights on when they park? Yeah, lets just leave my keys in the ignition and drain my batteries while I'm in a store. :roll:

Stupidest rant ever.

You do not need your keys in for parking lights.

Yes, I do.

So I ask you again, who the f&ck leaves their parking lights on when they're parked?

 

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
12,589
0
76
I agree Triumph, nobody does. But some cars nowadays do that automatically and then turn them off after a bit.

Same with them driving with them on. You are aware that most if not ALL cars currently being made have the parking lights on automatically, ALL THE TIME. Idiot.
 

Triumph

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,031
14
81
Originally posted by: AMDZen
I agree Triumph, nobody does. But some cars nowadays do that automatically and then turn them off after a bit.

Same with them driving with them on. You are aware that most if not ALL cars currently being made have the parking lights on automatically, ALL THE TIME. Idiot.

Are you calling me an idiot? My MY2000 car does not have the parking lights on unless I turn on the headlights.
 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: vi_edit
I also wish that car manf. would start hard wiring lights to the windshield wiper switch. Once you turn your wipers on your headlights & taillights automatically turn on. Even with with the headlight laws in effect for close to 10 years now, there are still way too many idiots out there that are either to lazy or braindead to turn their lights on when it's raining out.

Too many people fail to understand that headlights/tail lights serve a dual purpose. Yes, they help YOU see. But they are also very helpful in helping OTHER PEOPLE see you.

QFT, it pisses me off when people rely on the stupid sensor to switch their headlights on, making them invisible in foggy, rainy, or snowy conditions during the daylight. Someday I hope they get into a minor accident and it's ruled their fault since their lights were off.
 

dionx

Diamond Member
Mar 11, 2001
3,500
1
81
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Originally posted by: dionx
Originally posted by: jagec
Originally posted by: dionx
i always cut off people who drive with parking lights on in the fast lane that are slowing me down and i act like i never saw them. usually they flash their high beams at me, then i brake hard for them trying to act all tough. i like seeing them swerving out of the way either into other lanes cutting other people off or swerving into the shoulder or having their car dip forward or screech because they were tailgaiting so close. if they didnt want any problems for me, they shouldnt have given me any problems to begin with by driving so slow in the fast lane

/puts flame suit on

The general rule of a$$hole drivers is to tailgate people who drive "too slow" , and brake check people who drive "too fast". You make NO sense. I'm guessing you put BMW badges and Cadillac rims on your riced Honda, so you don't know WHAT kind of a$$hole you are.

if i were to tailgait someone and they slam their brakes for tailgaiting them, it'd be my fault no matter what. i wouldnt want to put myself in a position where i'd be at fault. therefore i never tailgate. what if i were to run into another person like me? it'd be chaotic.

and i don't brake check fast people. if someone is going faster than me, i'd move out of their way if i was the only thing that was slowing them down. i wouldnt get out of peoples way if they were moving fast from behind me, but up ahead is traffic anyways. i'm not the one slowing them down, the general traffic is.

people who brake check me, i usually cut them off and brake check them. they should just get out of the fast lane to begin with rather than brake checking everyone who wants to pass them.

Great. You just admitted in this forum that you drive recklessly. I hope one day, you slam on your brakes and cause someone to rear-end you after you have passed them. They, when they show up in court, they present the judge with what you posted online.

Tell you what: Pass a police car, pull into its lane, slam on the brakes and cause them to swerve or to rear-end you. I guarantee they won't perceive it as their fault.

since when is saying something in a forum a basis for the absolute truth? your argument is weak.

and why would i cut off a cop? cops are never slowing me down. they are almost always 20+ mph than me. like i said, i'll only cut off people slowing me down.
 

AdamK47

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,752
3,589
136
If it's rainy outside during the day I drive with them on. That's mainly because the motors don't work for the flip up head lights on my 86 Trans Am. I could manually crank them up, but that takes too much time for a car I don't really care about.
 

surreal1221

Golden Member
Mar 12, 2005
1,206
0
0
I drive w/ my lights on either way so it doesnt really matter to me. But I do find it funny that it is someone else's pet peeve. You know my pet peeve? People who do not use their fvckin turn signals, use them you damn tards.
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
44
91
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.
My car doesn't have fogs. It has driving lights set in the bumper underneath the retracting headlights. The driving lights are 55W (same as standard low-beams) and the same light distribution pattern as low beams. I will often drive with the "headlights" off but the driving lights on at dusk/dawn. At night, I always add the headlights since more lumens mean better visibility.

But during times when headlights aren't necessary I'd rather just use the driving lights.

ZV
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
44
91
Originally posted by: Sukhoi
There is a reason they're illegal at dusk. I believe that the lower intensity of parking lights makes it harder to judge the distance and speed of an approaching vehicle.
Nope. Not the reason. The interesting thing is that it doesn't really matter how bright the light source is, it's still essentially the same level of severely increased difficulty to judge speed and distance from an approacing or retreating light source.

ZV
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
44
91
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
I do it when it's a short trip at dusk or dawn because I have Xenon headlamps and they have a limited life, which is affected by turning on and off. I'm going to be keeping the car for a long while, so I try to protect it when I can.
True Xenon arc discharge headlights have a life expectancy several times longer than traditional halogen bulbs. If your Xenon bulbs have a shorter life, then they are fake HIDs that are really just over-driven halogen bulbs with a tint to mimic the color temperature of true arc-discharge headlamps.

(This is leaving out a few early true arc-discharge lighting systems that came on the market around 1995 and left the market by 1997. They were notorious for having the ballasts die.)

ZV
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
44
91
Originally posted by: AMDZen
I agree Triumph, nobody does. But some cars nowadays do that automatically and then turn them off after a bit.

Same with them driving with them on. You are aware that most if not ALL cars currently being made have the parking lights on automatically, ALL THE TIME. Idiot.
Only GM, Subaru, and VW come to mind. The vast majority of US market automobiles do not have those stupid and useless daytime running lights.

ZV
 

myusername

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2003
5,046
0
0
Originally posted by: JW310
Originally posted by: cavemanmoron
Originally posted by: Sukhoi
It is illegal to drive with parking lights on.
True in NY State.
Funny, I wasn't able to find anything in the NY Vehicle & Traffic Laws prohibiting driving with the parking lights on.
JW
With the exception of a section on turn indicators, I did not find anything there at all about lamp usage - including any requirement that headlamps be illuminated at night, much less any actual specifications of those lights.

Consequently, it would be reasonable to assume the verbiage, including that for parking lamps, resides in another document - perhaps at the municipal level - not available from that page
 

WiseOldDude

Senior member
Feb 13, 2005
702
0
0
Originally posted by: Baked
I drive at night w/o the head lights on on several occasion in the old car. Meh.

And when you cause an accident, I sure hope there are witnesses to testify in court against you. It's not really about what you can see, but the fact that you CAN'T be seen by other drivers. I figure you also drive a dark colored car also.
 

Raduque

Lifer
Aug 22, 2004
13,140
138
106
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: AMDZen
I agree Triumph, nobody does. But some cars nowadays do that automatically and then turn them off after a bit.

Same with them driving with them on. You are aware that most if not ALL cars currently being made have the parking lights on automatically, ALL THE TIME. Idiot.
Only GM, Subaru, and VW come to mind. The vast majority of US market automobiles do not have those stupid and useless daytime running lights.

ZV


The last bit is true. I've only ever seen DRL on GMs, though. And by Daytime Running Lights, I mean headlights that are shining whenever the car is running. My mom's van (97 GMC Safari) has them, and she sometimes forgets to turn the lights on at night, because she can see the DRLs shining on the ground. It's kinda dangerous, because only your headlights are on, and they're not as bright as even low beams are.
 

3chordcharlie

Diamond Member
Mar 30, 2004
9,859
1
81
I think DRLs should all be four-way, not headlights only - in Canada, two-way DRLs have lead to a lot more people forgetting to turn on headlights at night (because you can 'see' that your headlights are actually on.

As far as using parking lights only, WTF? What do so many people have against turning on their lights? It's absolutely retarded how many people want to leave them off as long as possible, and I just don't get it. It must be the same as the 'I don't want to use my seatblet' phenomenon... completely unreasonable knee-jerk reaction to doing the intelligent thing.

I'm in favour of DRLs, and I like GMs automatic headlights that turn themselves on based on light conditions. Too many idiots out there who refuse or forget to turn on their lights at night, in heavy clouds/fog/rain, etc.