Parking lights at dusk?

Rob9874

Diamond Member
Nov 7, 1999
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Why the hell do people use their parking lights at dusk? Why not use the whole headlight? If you're gonna take the time to turn on your lights, why only go half way? Do you think it uses less battery?
 

Colt45

Lifer
Apr 18, 2001
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Because you don't need headlights. Parklights are for people to see you. simple concept, no?
 

Rob9874

Diamond Member
Nov 7, 1999
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It's stupid that's why. I'll flash my brights at you. And you most definitely need lights at dusk. It doesn't make me mad so much that they have their parking lights on, but no headlights! What drivers ed course teaches that you only need headlights when it's pitch dark outside?
 

Colt45

Lifer
Apr 18, 2001
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well on my car the parklights are hooked up with 'city lights' or whatever they call them. little 5 watters.

uh basically.. if its not very dark.. eg. in the city at 7 oclock, you don't need headlights. but parklights are nice so some drunkfuck doesnt run into you.
 

Rob9874

Diamond Member
Nov 7, 1999
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Originally posted by: Colt45
well on my car the parklights are hooked up with 'city lights' or whatever they call them. little 5 watters.

uh basically.. if its not very dark.. eg. in the city at 7 oclock, you don't need headlights. but parklights are nice so some drunkfuck doesnt run into you.

Why not use the headlights?!?!?!?!?! That's what I use to be seen at 7pm.
 

Colt45

Lifer
Apr 18, 2001
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because it's not dark at 7pm in the city. you don't need them. I use them sometimes, sometimes i dont.. depends how i feel. once the sun is like.. down proper, then ill throw them on..

POS lights on my car are so horrid it doesnt make much of a difference in the city though.. which is probably why i dont use them sometimes.
 

thomsbrain

Lifer
Dec 4, 2001
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they can see you a lot better with your headlights on and you're less likely to forget to turn on your real lights when it actually gets dark.
 

nsafreak

Diamond Member
Oct 16, 2001
7,093
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Well my old car (miss this feature in my new car) was always checking the light levels. It would automatically set the level of the headlights so that they were bright enough to get you seen but not brighter than they needed to be.
 

allisolm

Elite Member
Administrator
Jan 2, 2001
25,342
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Parking lights are for you to turn on AFTER your car is parked. They are to be used if your car is parked somewhere that other vehicles might not see it, such as the only car parked on the street immediately after a curve or something like that. They are not supposed to be used for driving and, at least in FL and CA, it is illegal to drive using only parking lights. I believe that it is also illegal in Canada, Germany, Italy and the UK.
 

acemcmac

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
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My drivers ed teacher specifically explained to me that parking lights are called "parking" lights and not driving lights or some other nonsense for a reason.... he insisted it was illegal to drive with them on in any condition.

The only time I ever use them is when the brightness of my headlights will obscure my car's reflection in other cars or windows to help me park in uber tight spots
 

TwinkleToes77

Diamond Member
Jul 13, 2002
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Originally posted by: thomsbrain
they can see you a lot better with your headlights on and you're less likely to forget to turn on your real lights when it actually gets dark.

Thats why i love the auto lights in my car. I don't have to touch the handle to turn them on at all. The only time I do is if its raining.. and i want my rear lights on as well as my headlights.
 

imported_Phil

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2001
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Originally posted by: TwinkleToes77
Originally posted by: thomsbrain
they can see you a lot better with your headlights on and you're less likely to forget to turn on your real lights when it actually gets dark.

Thats why i love the auto lights in my car. I don't have to touch the handle to turn them on at all. The only time I do is if its raining.. and i want my rear lights on as well as my headlights.

Auto lights > * :D
Sometimes they get a bit confused though :)
 

TechnoKid

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2001
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even worse i think is people who drive with their foglights on when need not be (esp big trucks). In CA, if weather conditions or even the time of day do not warrant the use of fog lights or other auxilary foward lights, you can get ticket for improper use of lights. And, if you use only your foglights and not your headlights to drive with say at night, you can get a ticket for that too; foglights are not the proper lights to illuminate the road, too much foreground illumination will make you overdrive your headlights. In CA, you have to have at least your low beams on to use foglights at the same time.

most cops around here will give you a warning if you drive only with parking lights on, or have a burnt out heladight bulb.
 
Jan 31, 2002
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Originally posted by: allisolm
Parking lights are for you to turn on AFTER your car is parked. They are to be used if your car is parked somewhere that other vehicles might not see it, such as the only car parked on the street immediately after a curve or something like that. They are not supposed to be used for driving and, at least in FL and CA, it is illegal to drive using only parking lights. I believe that it is also illegal in Canada, Germany, Italy and the UK.

Hi, welcome to Canada, where we have DRLs, voiding that whole statement. :p

Headlights come on with the streetlights.

Sidelights are used for well-lit but low-visibility situations, and to been seen, not to see. Example: low fog, blowing snow, rain.

- M4H
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
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that is wrong, parking lights are for parking and not for driving

if there is any question if lights are needed during driving, then turn on the headlights
 

allisolm

Elite Member
Administrator
Jan 2, 2001
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Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: allisolm
Parking lights are for you to turn on AFTER your car is parked. They are to be used if your car is parked somewhere that other vehicles might not see it, such as the only car parked on the street immediately after a curve or something like that. They are not supposed to be used for driving and, at least in FL and CA, it is illegal to drive using only parking lights. I believe that it is also illegal in Canada, Germany, Italy and the UK.

Hi, welcome to Canada, where we have DRLs, voiding that whole statement. :p
Headlights come on with the streetlights.
Sidelights are used for well-lit but low-visibility situations, and to been seen, not to see. Example: low fog, blowing snow, rain.

- M4H

Does that mean I can drive my car (which does not have DRLs) in Canada with just the parking lights on?

 

Joemonkey

Diamond Member
Mar 3, 2001
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when i had a car that had them, i never used my parking lights for anything by themselves

now my car has DRLs and the lights switch is on/off with no parking lights inbetween