PLEASE EXPLAIN: Why Drive With ONLY Parking Lights On? (A Small Rant)

[arwalden]

To Everyone Who Does This:

I fail to see the logic of turning on your car's parking lights (running lights) at pre-twilight. Why not just go ahead and turn your lights on all the way??

Do you think you're "saving" electricity? Do you believe you're extending the life of your headlight bulbs?

I JUST DON'T GET IT! Am I missing something? Or are you just an idiot?

What happens is... because your instrument panel is fully illuminated and you FORGET that it's getting darker and darker outside. Your eyes get accustomed to the growing darkness, and you can easily read your speedometer... so you think nothing of it.

In the meantime... NOBODY CAN SEE YOU!! Those dim yellow lights of yours are practically invisible compared to the surrounding sea of FULLY BRIGHT headlights!!

It's a good thing I've got anti-lock brakes and fast reflexes, or we would BOTH be in the hospital right now.

-- Allen

[frylock]

1. cuz it looks kewl..

on my blacked out black Grand Prix.. that's why?

[arwalden]

2. "Kewl"?? Oh Brother!

In just one misspelled word, you've said VOLUMES!! And I'm guessing that you're probably more correct that you imagined.

Thanks for the feedback.

-- Allen

[dofus]

3. Newer cars

and mine is one of them, the parking lights automatically come on when the transmission is engaged. I think it's stupid and unnecessary, but I can't control it.

Otherwise, if your noticing a population of much older drivers (at least 55), we were taught to put on the parking lights around sunset, and then turn them all the way on when it got darker. I didn't think anyone actually did that anymore.

[hlthe2b]

4. I'll add, when raining /snowing: turn the damned lights on!!!!!

Why the hell do so few people do so, now? Even in a near blizzard. And why do the cops ignore it now? Sheesh....

[theshadow]

5. Like Dofus Said....

that's what passes for daytime running lights on some models. The bigger question is why did the US DOT allow this engineering to take place, instead of making it uniform for all models that low intensity headlights would serve that purpose.

[newyawker99]

18. Hi theshadow!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[jburton]

6. That pisses me off

I was in a big freakin storm once, and somebody with no lights on got pissed when I started to move into his lane. OK, I can't see you if you don't turn your lights on, dumbass.

A place I used to work made us turn on the headlights ALL the time, even if it was 12 noon and sunny. Same concept as DRL's that come on automatically. Your risks of getting in a wreck drop dramatically.

[TheBigGuy]

7. I think this started in Europe...the running lights being on all the time

not sure about that but i think thats where this had got started.

My car has the headlights on all the time. The running lights are not dim orange but part of the regular headlights and there is a sensor that turns on the real headlights when it gets dark enough out. Its a safety feature built into the car.

[NashVegas]

8. Daytime Running Lights Are Distracting

We can see oncoming cars just fine without the extra attention. There are other things on and around the road drivers need to look out for besides other cars - bikes, pedestrians, animals, objects, etc.

[KCDem]

26. Then they served their point

You are more likely to notice cars coming at you if they have their lights on.

When my dayloghts are on in my Camry, the instument panel is not lit. No chance I'll forget to turn the lights on all the way when it's dark.

I also hate it when people drive in the rain without their lights.

[Drifter]

12. Canada had a ...

"Lights on for Safety" campaign in the mid to late 80's.

This is why Motorcycles are required to have their lights on at all times. Visibility.

I always drive with my lights on. If I make myself as visible as possible I reduce the risk that some Dick Head will run into me.

Cheers
Drifter

[Habibi]

13. Yup!

Headlights on all the time: it's just good defensive driving, IMO.

[Whoa_Nelly]

20. Motorcycle headlights

on all the time are a good thing. Motorcycles move quickly, sometimes dodging around other traffic to get ahead on the road, and they are slim in comparison to viewing cars...less visible than cars...on the road.

[Skittles]

9. my car does it automatically

really

[TheBigGuy]

15. same here.

...its built-in. I cant turn them off if I wanted to...

[NashVegas]

10. Has It Occurred to You?

The guy who didn't switch to full head lamps once it did get dark was an idiot. Sorry about your accident.

I'm one of those who use running lights around twilight and dawn. Reasons stated above but what it comes down to is there are other things on the road besides cars one needs to view for safety purposes. Full headlights when it's still daylight distract from those things.

[Kellanved]

11. They're mandatory in northern countries for a reason.

In some Scandinavian countries you're only allowed to drive with full headlights. This has lowered the number of accidents dramatically - especially in the "polar dusk" periods. Parking lights did not produce a comparable improvement.

[arwalden]

16. Uh.... Okay?

I'm not really sure how your own headlights can distract you during daylight... but, okay. I'll take your word for it.

They don't really distract me (my own lights) and when other cars have their lights on during the daylight, I can see them approaching from a further distance... I'm not likely to confuse them with a parked car (particularly when navigating through narrower residential streets) and when pulling out into a 50MPH avenue (and most drivers are going 60) it's also a good visual indicator of speed and how fast they are actually approaching.

-- Allen

[NashVegas]

25. HaHa

I'm not really sure how your own headlights can distract you during daylight

You're really funny. I'm busting a gut. You should be on Leno or something.

[arikara]

14. The days are getting shorter

and soon the morans in the big suv's and 4x4's will be commuting with their fog lights and extra driving lights on blinding all oncoming traffic. That's my peeve, I don't know why they are allowed to get away with that.

[arwalden]

17. And Those BLUE BRIGHTS Headlights... BLINDING!!!

I'm all for headlights. But OH. My. GOD.

[KDLarsen]

23. Yeah, it's terrible...

.. I have no problem with normal headlights, but those blue-ish that the cabs overhere likes to use.. They're just killing me.

[dofus]

19. I made a visit to Moscow in 1976,

and back then people drove with headlights OFF while in the city, apparently because the streets were so well lit, which they were in central Moscow. I was almost run over because I didn't notice an oncoming vehicle as I stepped out in the street. Luckily, someone next to me grabbed me and pulled me back.

However, I'm not sure that running lights on in the full daylight actually make cars for visible.

[NicoleM]

21. could not agree more

Drives me nuts, too. They're called parking lights for a reason!

[KDLarsen]

22. Do it like we do...

.. in Denmark, it is required by law to have headlights on at all times, regardless of time (day, night, dusk, dawn). The sole purpose, as far as I know, is to allow people to differenciate between a driving car and a parked car. I have no clue as to why it's not mandatory everywhere else.

[trof]

24. I always use headlights.

Most of my local driving is on two lane county roads.
Turning the headlights on when I start the engine, day or night, is now as automatic as fastening my seatbelt/shoulder harness.
It's purely for self protection. The higher my visibility, the better.