Side lights (again)

Gwynston

Bear with me - I know this has been done to death, but I have a new slant...

As I was driving home in a thunderstorm last evening, I inevitably tutted as I passed cars who hadn't bothered switching their headlights on for the gloomy conditions. But it never ceases to amaze me when I see cars with just side lights on. :eek: These are drivers who have actually thought about the poor visibility and made a conscious decision to turn their dial, but deliberately stop at the first position rather than going just a bit further to switch their headlights on properly. :mad:

Why? Do they really think side lights are any use? Can't they tell by seeing other cars with side lights on that they're a waste of time...

Anyway, the reason I bring this up again is because while getting an NCT test done this week, in the waiting room were a bunch of RSA leaflets. One was a multi-page effort on the correct use of car lights. It was almost as detailed as it could be, from the very basics of what the various lights on a car are for and when to use them, to more "complex" stuff like the correct use (and miss-use) of fog lights, what DRLs are etc.

So it was pretty comprehensive, but no-where did it mention side lights at all :eek:
No wonder drivers don't understand what that extra position on the dial is for - even the RSA can't find a way to explain side lights... :rolleyes:

Zcott

With new cars now coming with DRLs as standard, are sidelights even necessary?

Gwynston

Zcott wrote: »

With new cars now coming with DRLs as standard, are sidelights even necessary?

Well, my point is - were they ever necessary?
Even the RSA can't explain what they're for....

Zcott

My Civic has auto lights and they're either all on or nothing on. No sidelights only on auto mode. Always seem a bit redundant to me.

CiniO

Side lights, called as well position lights, are there to be used when car is parked in dark place to make it visible for others.
And thats what they were designed for.
No vehicle manufacturer probably ever thought that they are going to be used when car is moving in traffic.
In many countries its illegal to have side lights on when car is being driven.

CiniO

Zcott wrote: »

With new cars now coming with DRLs as standard, are sidelights even necessary?

They are for purpose I outlined above. Not for driving, thats why drls cant be a substitution for side lights

CiniO

Zcott wrote: »

With new cars now coming with DRLs as standard, are sidelights even necessary?

They are for purpose I outlined above. Not for driving, thats why drls cant be a substitution for side lights

Gwynston

So why can't the RSA explain that?

Here's the RSA leaflet:
The Correct Use Of Lights On Cars

It actually has pictures of the front and back of a car explaining what all the lights are for (which should be checked regularly) - even the number plate lights!

It in fact does mention "Two white sidelights" at the front end. But doesn't explain what they're for!

TBi

I just wish people wouldn't use their bloody spot lights. Those things are dazzling. Some of these idiots have their spots on and main lights off!

punisher5112

TBi wrote: »

I just wish people wouldn't use their bloody spot lights. Those things are dazzling. Some of these idiots have their spots on and main lights off!

Fog lights?

These are espaecially bad on SubaruImprezza , Mitsi Evo and worst is Nissan micra 99,00 models as there is no cap in middle of bulb so full light is been imitted.

A lot of new cars may look like they have their fogs on but these are integrated DRL's Day Time Running Lights.

I have no problem with fog lights been used during the day but can be a problem at night.

I find a lot don't even bother turning their lights on at night and also a lot with DRL's fitted semm to forget to switch on also.

challengemaster

CiniO wrote: »

In many countries its illegal to have side lights on when car is being driven.

And in many countries, the police force actually enforce traffic laws.

We could keep listing differences between Ireland and other countries

ironclaw

I never understood the grievance some people have with side / parking lights. There are light conditions (30 mins before dusk, dull morning etc) where dipped headlights would be inappropriate. By flicking on the sides your turning on the same lights as dips at the rear, and most modern day front sides are either LED or most people swap out for LED bulbs anyway. So you are well lit up which is the whole point anyway. I pretty much use mine as DLRL on overcast or dull days.

I'm not for a moment defending the usage of sides in rain or at night, but I'd rather see someone with some lights on than none at all in the above situations.

Gwynston

I think the new trend for fancy, patterned LED sidelights has blurred the difference between sides and DRLs. For the better, I'd say. LEDs are definitely brighter than sides and are good as DRLs.

I'm just wondering what sidelights are "officially" for?

I remember back in the 70s my dad had a Road Atlas of Europe which contained some pages about different road signs and rules around Europe, and I recall back then some countries actually had obscure rules like you had to switch to side lights when driving at night in a built-up area with street lighting. I don't think that's been a rule anywhere for a long time now.

I seem to also recall rules or yore about needing to leave side lights on when parked at night on a poorly lit street. Certainly that's the only use I can think of for them now.

In fact on many cars, turning the indicator stalk when parked will activate the side light and rear light on that side of the car upon exiting. This illuminates the offside of the car when parked in the street.

ianobrien

There are certain machines that you can't turn on the sidelights if the ignition is on. The Fiat Ducato comes to mind for that. It's a clever system, you turn the key back from the off position while pressing a button next to the key. The lights come on and the key comes out.

pippip

Not sure if the law has been superseded but in the UK there is a law that you must have sidelights on during "Hours of darkness" which was defined as half an hour after dawn and half an hour before sunset.

Also to have your sidelights on if parked in darkness on a road with a speedlimit of above 30mph.

In Ireland i'm just grateful of sidelights when someone is coming towards you at night with a blown dipped light, at least you know its not a motorbike.