Parking lights

Orla K

I was driving with my uncle during the day, it started to get dark as if it was going to rain(more gray than dark). He said just turn on the parking lights. Someone else said that I shouldn't have them on when driving. I'd be more inclined to trust my uncle but anyone know for sure which it is.

Wishbone Ash

Orla K wrote: »

I was driving with my uncle during the day, it started to get dark as if it was going to rain(more gray than dark). He said just turn on the parking lights. Someone else said that I shouldn't have them on when driving. I'd be more inclined to trust my uncle but anyone know for sure which it is.

Parking lights (side lights) are for parking. If you need lights while driving use dipped headlights.

Alanstrainor

Parking lights are lights to be used when parked. It's as simple as that. If lighting conditions weren't too great, then use your dipped headlights. That's what they are there for. As long as your dipped headlights are aligned correctly there shouldn't be any issue with having them on all the time.
It is illegal to drive with, solely "parking lights" on.
EDIT: Just to note, twilight ie when it "starts" to get dark, is the time when you should turn on your dipped headlights. It infuriates me to see people driving around when it's near to, or completely pitch black with no lights on [Rant over]

Orla K

Alanstrainor wrote: »

It is illegal to drive with, solely "parking lights" on.

I did have a feeling that was right, I just thought that my uncle should have known what's legal and illegal, he was a garda for about 40 years. Next time I'm in the car with him I'm going to have to slag him off for not knowing.

MarkR

Dipped headlights (two clicks on the stalk if you're not sure usually) are what you should use if you want to see something or be seen.

Parking / accessory lights are useless for driving. They don't illuminate the road, and they don't light up enough for your car to be any more noticeable then it was before you turned them on. Except for people who, like me, see these and try to cause these peoples cars to explode with the power of their mind.

Hasn't worked so far. Yet.

This is particularly true though, when it's raining / foggy / misty.

challengemaster

Orla K wrote: »

he was a garda for about 40 years.

Doesn't make him a driving instructor though. I'd doubt most gardai even know the law fully themselves. Quite a few can't drive...

Thoie

Orla K wrote: »

I did have a feeling that was right, I just thought that my uncle should have known what's legal and illegal, he was a garda for about 40 years. Next time I'm in the car with him I'm going to have to slag him off for not knowing.

Rule1! Never trust ex-garda uncles. From personal experience they talk a load of ****

It's a good habit to keep your headlights on dim no matter what time of day in winter.

Wishbone Ash

Orla K wrote: »

he was a garda for about 40 years

In my experience, most Gardai have a very limited knowledge in relation to driving.

MarkR wrote: »

They don't illuminate the road, and they don't light up enough for your car to be any more noticeable then it was before you turned them on

I can never understand why those people who use parking lights don't see how useless they are on other vehicles that they meet on the roads.

Orla K

challengemaster wrote: »

Doesn't make him a driving instructor though. I'd doubt most gardai even know the law fully themselves. Quite a few can't drive...

I have to say he would be a great driving instructor, with a bit of effort. He also did the intensive driving course in Templemore but his area wasn't traffic corps it was with the special units.

Alanstrainor

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

In my experience, most Gardai have a very limited knowledge in relation to driving.

I can never understand why those people who use parking lights don't see how useless they are on other vehicles that they meet on the roads.

I'd say ignorance is the main cause. I honestly believe that a lot of drivers simply do not know how to use their lights. That's why we see so many cars with only parking lights, or parking lights and fogs. It's not a conscious decision, they flick a switch, see lights on their dash and drive. It's as simple as that, that's why flashing these people when they're driving in pitch black conditions is useless 99% of the time, because as far as they're concerned everything is dandy. I'd say Dublin drivers are the worst offenders, seeing that most streets are well lit, I live in Dublin so i'm not just having a go, meaning that you can see where you're going, it's just that nobody else will.

dudara

MarkR wrote: »

Except for people who, like me, see these and try to cause these peoples cars to explode with the power of their mind.

Hasn't worked so far. Yet.

Keep trying, I know how you feel. Parking lights are not dipped lights. I think that we genuinely need a national education campaign on car lights.

I'd say ignorance is the main cause. I honestly believe that a lot of drivers simply do not know how to use their lights.

I'd definitely agree. I really think that fog lights should be controlled by a big button on the dash that says 'FOG'. (Preferably, it should only be accessed following the use of two simultaneous keys and a retinal scan). In a lot of cars, the switch for fog lights is awkward to find and use. Make it easier and people might actually start to use them correctly.

Alanstrainor

Give car makers a few years and it'll all be automatic, no switches, lights come on when they're needed and that's that. And perhaps there'll be a switch for fogs and full beams, the car will warn you about both when they're used inappropriately. Big brother much?

dudara

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Give car makers a few years and it'll all be automatic, no switches, lights come on when they're needed and that's that. And perhaps there'll be a switch for fogs and full beams, the car will warn you about both when they're used inappropriately. Big brother much?

A tiny bit. Plus I wouldn't be too trusting of the sensors. For instance, if I use the light sensor on my SLR camera to set the exposure time, it inevitably overexposes by the tiniest amount, meaning that the photos are just a tiny bit too bright. I always set it about 1-2 points below what it recommends.

Orla K

dudara wrote: »

I'd definitely agree. I really think that fog lights should be controlled by a big button on the dash that says 'FOG'. (Preferably, it should only be accessed following the use of two simultaneous keys and a retinal scan). In a lot of cars, the switch for fog lights is awkward to find and use. Make it easier and people might actually start to use them correctly.

I have to say I know where the button for the fog lights is. I'm the only one that drives the car and sometimes I've noticed that the fog lights are on. I don't turn them on and they weren't on the last time I got into the car, what I think happens I hit the button with my knee when I get in either that or it's car elves pushing it when I'm not looking.

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Give car makers a few years and it'll all be automatic, no switches, lights come on when they're needed and that's that. And perhaps there'll be a switch for fogs and full beams, the car will warn you about both when they're used inappropriately. Big brother much?

I was driving an instructors car before the lights were automatic(so were the wippers) it started to rain and he never told me those things were automatic, it was one of the 1st times behind a wheel, and I jumped.

challengemaster

dudara wrote: »

A tiny bit. Plus I wouldn't be too trusting of the sensors. For instance, if I use the light sensor on my SLR camera to set the exposure time, it inevitably overexposes by the tiniest amount, meaning that the photos are just a tiny bit too bright. I always set it about 1-2 points below what it recommends.

True, the same kind of thing. Do you really want some programmer in China or Japan in 200X deciding when its dark enough for your lights to come on?

Burtchaell

Somtimes I drive around with my dipped lights on during the day in the winter. Parkers are for parking. Just dont use your headlights.lol

Wishbone Ash

dudara wrote: »

I think that we genuinely need a national education campaign on car lights

It might suppress the old belief that lights 'waste' the battery!

dudara wrote:

I'd definitely agree. I really think that fog lights should be controlled by a big button on the dash that says 'FOG'. (Preferably, it should only be accessed following the use of two simultaneous keys and a retinal scan)

Maybe they should wire the cars so that if the front or rear fogs are switched on, a speed limiter set at 20kph is activated!

(Although the downside is that in real fog, people probably wouldn't use them at all).

Car sales people are also to blame as they inform potential customers, especially those not 'into' cars, that the front fogs are 'spot lights'. :rolleyes:

Wishbone Ash

Burtchaell wrote: »

Somtimes I drive around with my dipped lights on during the day in the winter. Parkers are for parking. Just dont use your headlights.lol

You're contradicting yourself! Dipped lights are headlights but not on full beam.

Alanstrainor

Burtchaell wrote: »

Somtimes I drive around with my dipped lights on during the day in the winter. Parkers are for parking. Just dont use your headlights.lol

Headlight refers to lights at the front of a vehicle. Full beams on the other hand refer to the brightest of all the settings, which would be the ones you are referring to. So yes you should use your dipped headlights and not your full beam or parking headlights;)

Saruman

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Give car makers a few years and it'll all be automatic, no switches, lights come on when they're needed and that's that. And perhaps there'll be a switch for fogs and full beams, the car will warn you about both when they're used inappropriately. Big brother much?

Thats how they are on Volvo i believe. Also on some American Cars too.

Its quite simple. Drive with dipped headlights ALL THE TIME!!! Except of course where you need high beams.. Oh and that does NOT include on motorways at night. There is no reason for it and especially when there are oncoming drivers. There is a reason the Government recommend dipped headlights during the day as well as night and why its illegal NOT to in some countries like Sweden. It is safer and other drivers will see you better.

Burtchaell

Amazing the corrections you can get from a badly phrased post!:D

TwoShedsJackson

I drive with dipped beams on all the time. There's no reason not to.

It doesn't cause you or the car any harm, and it makes you more visible without inconveniencing anyone else. There's no downside really.

timmywex

You should always drive with dipped headlights on, it has been found that they reduce accisdent rate by between 7%-10%. Ever notice that garda cars always have them on? They automatically come on when the car is started, same with some new higher end cars, all cars will have lights on at all times in a few years(2012 i think) by way of eu regulation

topper75

Alanstrainor wrote: »

EDIT: Just to note, twilight ie when it "starts" to get dark, is the time when you should turn on your dipped headlights. It infuriates me to see people driving around when it's near to, or completely pitch black with no lights on [Rant over]

Fair point - lights must be on a twilight. Dangerous to do otherwise.

However, it also depresses me when people stick them on during the day at the slightest bit of gloom, a relatively new trend. I think a lot of folks are watching too much television and their eyesight is cat as a result. This, combined with a lot of other folks driving way to lively, is a bad recipe. Ease off both the accelerator and nights stuck in staring at the box I say.

Alanstrainor

topper75 wrote: »

Fair point - lights must be on a twilight. Dangerous to do otherwise.

However, it also depresses me when people stick them on during the day at the slightest bit of gloom, a relatively new trend. I think a lot of folks are watching too much television and their eyesight is cat as a result. This, combined with a lot of other folks driving way to lively, is a bad recipe. Ease off both the accelerator and nights stuck in staring at the box I say.

Why does it depress you? When lighting conditions change for the worse, you should put your dipped headlights on. It's as simple as that, i would rather people put them on than not put them on.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

david

Parking lights - Use when you're parked in a dark area or narrow street. Turn them on and use the indicator stalk to control which side you need lit, then switch off ignition

Dips - All the time if you wish.

Fogs (Front & rear) - Only in fog/sleet/v. poor visibility

Wishbone Ash

david wrote: »

use the indicator stalk to control which side you need lit, then switch off ignition

That feature is only available in some models (especially German).

Alun

It can be more complicated than that ... The switch on my Ford Focus activates the parking lights both at an intermediate position between OFF and the headlights-on position which only function while the ignition switch is in position II, i.e. when the engine is running to all intents, plus an additional parking light position (to the left of OFF) that also requires me to first push the switch in before turning it to turn on the parking lights (which also works when the key is out of the ignition switch).

Way back when I learnt to drive in the UK in the 70's you were actually taught to use what were then called sidelights when driving in built-up areas with street lighting. This may have been taught in Ireland back then too, hence why you see so many people using them under those circumstances.

fiona-f

I've just realised that I don't actually know when I should use parking lights. I could recite the answer to the test question about dipped headlights in my sleep but am really unsure about parking lights. I would guess that it should be if you were parked somewhere that you might not be seen by uncoming traffic, but then how come I never see parked cars with them on? Can someone fill me in please on what their correct use is? Thanks!

Alanstrainor

fiona-f wrote: »

I've just realised that I don't actually know when I should use parking lights. I could recite the answer to the test question about dipped headlights in my sleep but am really unsure about parking lights. I would guess that it should be if you were parked somewhere that you might not be seen by uncoming traffic, but then how come I never see parked cars with them on? Can someone fill me in please on what their correct use is? Thanks!

Say if you pull over to the side of the road and you're doing something in your car, eg finding a map. You'd switch on your parking lights, you are parked, when you are ready to go, put your dips on.

CoachDriver

Orla K wrote: »

He said just turn on the parking lights.

call it city lights and it is always better to bee seen

CoachDriver

fiona-f wrote: »

I've just realised that I don't actually know when I should use parking lights. I could recite the answer to the test question about dipped headlights in my sleep but am really unsure about parking lights. I would guess that it should be if you were parked somewhere that you might not be seen by uncoming traffic, but then how come I never see parked cars with them on? Can someone fill me in please on what their correct use is? Thanks!

In the Irish Rules of the Road book, “parking lights” are only once mention once on
Page 141;
What to do if you arrive at the scene of an accident
Do switch on hazard warning lights and parking lights.

"Some models of car are fitted with parking lights. Basically, the way they worked was that the offside side and rear lights would remain on after the lights were turned off at the dashboard, by moving the indicator arm to the turn right position when parking.

They aren't really necessary in towns with street lighting, but are handy if you have had to park on a road with no street lighting."