Proper names for lights

NeVeR

I've been driving years and still hear different names for lights.. And now I'm not sure I'm calling them correct.

My car has the following

1 click/turn - my side lights come on ( side lights on front of car)/
2 clicks/turns - my normal driving lights
Push the stick towards the dash . what I call full beams.. I only use these down the country when there's no street lights or other cars at they blind people

What is the correct name for those 3 stages

Is it
1: dipped
2: full beams
3 high beams

Or what is correct ?

Thanks

Mech1

1. Sidelights
2. Dipped Beam
3. Main or Full Beam.

cletus

I had always know number one as parking lights. Its only recently I've heard people referring to them as side lights

kirving

I tend to call them side lights, which implies they're ok to drive with.

They're really just parking lights though.

GalwayKiefer

1. Parking lights.
2. Dipped
3. High

Voodoomelon

I prefer the American way of naming them, as the word dipped seems to confuse a lot of people.

1. Side lights or parking lights
2. Low beam
3. High beam

But then you get people wondering what you're talking about.

Cortina_MK_IV

I always said side, low and high but someone corrected me once and called them parking lights. However there are those lights where you put them on when you park (don't come on on the dash?) and you can set it for right or left side of the car. So I stick to side lights.

colm_mcm

Cortina_MK_IV wrote: »

I always said side, low and high but someone corrected me once and called them parking lights. However there are those lights where you put them on when you park (don't come on on the dash?) and you can set it for right or left side of the car. So I stick to side lights.

The ones you set for right/left only tend to be on German cars.

Cortina_MK_IV

I was thinking that as I had them on a BMW and VW but wasn't sure if SAAB and Volvo had them.

joujoujou

In Ireland:

1. Driving lights - use them in bad weather condition, as long as you can see what's in front of you. Not mandatory though, if you feel better without them, don't use them.

2. Useless lights - avoid them, fuel consumption would be massively affected. And they're extremely expensive, so will save you a lot of money you'd spend for replacements.

3. Night lights - if there's pitch dark and you cannot see the road in front of you, these are the ones for you. Additionally, they're very handy for flashing at all the maniacs overtaking you.

Elsewhere:

1. Parking lights a.k.a. side lights.

2. Dipped beam a.k.a. low beam.

3. High beam a.k.a. full beam.

marketty

Most Irish motorists seem to just twiddle with the switches/stalks until the dashboard instruments are illuminated (if even that) and then set off. Could be parking lights, fogs, 1 full beam headlight, sure whatever, car only passed the nct 9 months ago, be grand

cml387

Use sidelights until well after nightfall, or in fog. Sure you don't want to drain the battery.:rolleyes:

Actually I never see the need for sidelights/parking lights. If I were in a situation in the dark parked on the side of the road I'd prefer hazard lights

Mahogany Gaspipe

cml387 wrote: »

If I were in a situation in the dark parked on the side of the road I'd prefer hazard lights

I really hate when drivers do this at night.

If you're parked use parking lights.
Only if there is a hazardous situation that you need to warn other road users of use the hazard warning lights. You may cause unnecessary distraction otherwise.

shietpilot

I always use my sidelights if the visibility conditions are perfect. I replaced my sidelights with LED bulbs and they do serve a purpose because LED bulbs are much brighter than incandescent bulbs during daylight.

If it's even slightly dark/foggy/raining I'm using dipped lights.

The clowns with DRLs are the most annoying ones with not a single light lit on the rear of the car when it's completely dark!

The amount of times I've come towards a silver car with no lights on in heavy rain on the motorway is crazy, they can hardly be seen!