Driving with parking lights on

[mclasser]

I've noticed a lot of people do this, especially in the evening while there's still a little time before sunset. I admit the amber lights look cool from afar but if you're going to turn on some lights, why not just flick the switch again and go with the full headlights? IIRC, some places have laws saying you can't actually drive with parking lights on. I know many GM cars have amber DRLs.

A personal rule of mine is to always drive with my headlights on -- day and of course, night. A lot of crazy, distracted drivers on the roads these days, so this is an easy way to make myself more visible to others.

 

[old1]

Here in this state, by the book it is illegal, but i have never seen where anyone was ticketed for it. I think it is one of those obsolete old laws that was put on the books so that other motorists could tell if you were moving or not. Maybe??

 

[Vern_in_IL]

when it is twilight or in a city, many cars you can turn on the marker lights and not turn on the headlights....

and you don't know this, because it's just bright enough you don't notice the headlight beam.... yet your dash is lit up, so you think they are on.

 

[justalubetech]

My Buick always has the park/turn lights on whenever it is running. Lots of GM cars have amber running lights, but I remember many years ago my driving instructor saying it was illegal to drive with parking lights on...but what about all these cars that turn them on themselves then? lol

 

[eljefino]

What gets me are people who turn on fog lights in daytime rain, presumably "to be seen". Yet their bulbs are more expensive and more poorly aimed (no black tip to block direct filament viewing) than regular low beams. If you ask them, it's to "save the headlights".

 

[simple_gifts]

I drive with my parking lights on all the time.

On tree covered back country roads, the altering bright sun and shade plays havoc with peoples eyes and cars (and bicyclists) are almost invisible; I choose to provide a beacon.

 

[jeepman3071]

I'd rather people drive with their parking lights on than those idiots who drive at night in dark vehicles with no lights on whatsoever.

 

[earlyre]

I've never had a car with DRL's, so i've always been the turn the headlamps on as soon as i start the engine crowd.

recently, i replaced the front turn bulbs with switch back LED's ( "bulb" has double rows of LEDs, one set white, one set orange, most of the time white, but when the turn flashes the white shuts off and orange lights up, then back and forth)
since then, I have found my self just turning the parking lights on during the day, since that gives me a bright white light facing foreward.


I got the "B" Type.

and whomever it was above complaining about people using their fog lights, and saying they were more expensive bulbs... not in my experience.. most factory fogs ive seen use a common off the rack bulb,my Sable, in fact, use the same h11 type as my low beams do.(both halogen projectors)
the Vibe takes a 9003 for the headlamps, and a 9006 for the fogs...

 

[bvance554]

They're called parking lights for a reason. Without claiming to know the law in every state, I'd would make a safe bet that it is illegal in every state to drive with your 'parking lights' on. Again, its in the name. Contrary to the post above, no vehicle with daytime running lights turns on the amber parking lights.

 

[Gasbuggy]

Originally Posted By: Vern_in_IL
when it is twilight or in a city, many cars you can turn on the marker lights and not turn on the headlights....

and you don't know this, because it's just bright enough you don't notice the headlight beam.... yet your dash is lit up, so you think they are on.


I agree with this guy, it's not intentional, just a small % of people who didn't turn the switch far enough.

 

[linksep]

Originally Posted By: bvance554
Contrary to the post above, no vehicle with daytime running lights turns on the amber parking lights.


Millions of GM cars use amber "parking lights" as DRLs. I put "parking lights" in quotes because they are actually multi-function light bulbs and reflectors. In my personal car 100% as delivered from GM 11 years ago (except some aftermarket maintenance parts) the DRLs are in fact amber and they are the same bulbs in the same reflectors as the "parking lights" (they are also turn signals and marker lights).

The DRLs operate on the high-brightness filament (the one that is used as the bright turn-signal flash) and the "parking lights" are the same bulb in the same reflector but operate on the low brightness (parking light / marker light) filament. When the headlight switch is "OFF" (no automatic headlights here) and the parking brake is released the amber "parking lights" in front turn on brightly. When the headlight switch is in the "parking light" position the front "parking lights" dim to the low brightness filament and the tail lights and license plate lights turn on. When the headlight switch is in the "ON" position it is the same as the "parking light" position with the addition of headlights.

 

[285south]

Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
I'd rather people drive with their parking lights on than those idiots who drive at night in dark vehicles with no lights on whatsoever.


It's just not your state but all 48.

I saw someone doing this and was thinking that I should slam on my brakes so that he would have rear-ended me. My state says that he would have been 100% at fault and that it was a new car with dealer tags.

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: 285south
Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
I'd rather people drive with their parking lights on than those idiots who drive at night in dark vehicles with no lights on whatsoever.


It's just not your state but all 48.

I saw someone doing this and was thinking that I should slam on my brakes so that he would have rear-ended me. My state says that he would have been 100% at fault and that it was a new car with dealer tags.


I know you're most likely just expressing a retaliatory fantasy that some of us harbor for those we presume to be dangerous idiots or, worse, maliciously acting against our best interests, but wouldn't you at least try flashing 'em once or twice? Maybe they just pulled out of a bright gas station and didn't realize their lights are off.

Even if it was an instance like I mention above, most people realize their lights are not on eventually or after the first person flashes lights at them.

I've seen others, though, who will drive in traffic or at a speed similar enough to mine that I can observe them and others for many miles. I wonder what goes through his or her mind when car after car flashes them, attempting to correct the situation. I watched once as one guy stayed behind an older lady and flashed, turned off and on lights, and honked at her to get her to turn any of her lights on. Instead of the intended result, she just showed down and, when I finally passed her, she was just looking forward, with both hands on the steering wheel. I couldn't discern nothing from my quick glance, but maybe she learned to ignore what she assumes are a-holes who try to teach her a lesson after she does something accidentally to pass them off. Maybe she has no idea why we all flashed her.

Maybe she shouldn't be on the road.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
What gets me are people who turn on fog lights in daytime rain, presumably "to be seen". Yet their bulbs are more expensive and more poorly aimed (no black tip to block direct filament viewing) than regular low beams. If you ask them, it's to "save the headlights".


Many fog lamps use normal headlamp bulbs. Both of our cars, for example, have fog lamps that take HB4 bulbs (9006). CR-Vs take H11s. Both have black tips.

Interestingly, our Ridgeline has dedicated DRL housings that run a non-tipped HB3 (9005) at low power. They look like fog lamps but the optics are different. The fog lamps sit just inboard of the DRL housings in the lower fascia.

 

[SevenBizzos]

Guilty as charged. No sense using headlights in that half hour before sunset as they don't make much difference. A lot of the posts admit cars become more visible with them on, so there's really not much difference either way in that time of day. It's about preference.

Illegal or not? Not very concerned. My Mustang has no front plate and has less than 6" of ground clearance. I guess those are my "gateway" laws that could lead to bigger things

 

[gathermewool]

What most people fail to recognize, is that exterior illumination isn't just about whether you can see, but to make sure others can see you. Headlights won't provide any help to me during low-light conditions, but they make me a lot more visible to others who may not see me due to sun glare or poor lighting.

Originally Posted By: SevenBizzos
Guilty as charged. No sense using headlights in that half hour before sunset as they don't make much difference. A lot of the posts admit cars become more visible with them on, so there's really not much difference either way in that time of day. It's about preference.

Illegal or not? Not very concerned. My Mustang has no front plate and has less than 6" of ground clearance. I guess those are my "gateway" laws that could lead to bigger things

Running only the parking lights during low-light conditions, like during rainy days, twilight or just after sunrise conditions or through heavily wooded areas does add visibility; however, I'd argue that it's not always enough.

In certain situations, light from headlights gives a much needed boost to visibility while marking nearby vehicles during a lane change or while merging into traffic. A dark car with only yellow front corner lights doesn't cut it, while headlights are sometimes immediate visible. IMO, headlights are 100% necessary for inclement weather.

 

[dblshock]

I don't think I've ever parked my car and then turned on 'parking lites'...who does this?

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: dblshock
I don't think I've ever parked my car and then turned on 'parking lites'...who does this?


I do it regularly. If you're driving at night and stop your vehicle in a parking lot or in front of a store, there's no need to have your head lamps on, but I do prefer to keep my car lit, so folks know it's occupied and could move soon. Parking lights work well for that.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: dblshock
I don't think I've ever parked my car and then turned on 'parking lites'...who does this?


I do it regularly. If you're driving at night and stop your vehicle in a parking lot or in front of a store, there's no need to have your head lamps on, but I do prefer to keep my car lit, so folks know it's occupied and could move soon. Parking lights work well for that.

Yeah, stopping on front of a store for loading/unloading and/or waiting I do have parking light on.

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: dblshock
I don't think I've ever parked my car and then turned on 'parking lites'...who does this?


I do it regularly. If you're driving at night and stop your vehicle in a parking lot or in front of a store, there's no need to have your head lamps on, but I do prefer to keep my car lit, so folks know it's occupied and could move soon. Parking lights work well for that.


+1

It could be that the same people who don't use their headlights at night also park and blind everyone (eg, in the building, walking by, etc.) instead of hanging out with the parking lights on.