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When should you drive with your parking lights instead of your headlights?

By Alonzo Garbonzo Asked Aug 4 2005 11:21AM
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Top Answer out of 20

by HungryGuy on Aug 5, 2005 at 6:12 am Permalink

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NEVER!!!!!

There's no count on the times I've seen some idiot driving at night with only his parking lights on because he thinks his headlights are on but he only turned on his parking lights at dusk and never turned his headlights on when it got dark.

He's an invisible bullet waiting to kill someone who pulls out right in front of him while's he tooling down the street at 50..

If you think you need lights on at all, then put your full headlights on so that you don't have to worry about it. And as a previous answer said, the law specifies when your headlights must be on (night, rain, etc.). Better yet, if you don't have daytime running lights, use your headlighs all the time.
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Avatar Daniel Jan, 27 2006 at 03:02 PM
Amen. Oath. Spot (and i mean SPOT) on. Well said.
Avatar Nquizitiv1 Apr, 04 2006 at 10:51 PM
Indeed, parking lights are..."Parking" lights!!
Avatar Nquizitiv1 Sep, 19 2008 at 12:08 AM
The most likely cause of your seeing so many idiots driving with parking lights on, is that they were legitimately parked somewhere probably minutes before you saw them-- at a grocery store, for example. When they left the grocery store, and got onto the main road, they did not know their headlights were off, because their dashboard lights are on. In many area where there are street lights or safety lights on at night, the driver can actually see very well, and unless someone flashes him, he will never realize that his actual headlights aren't on.

Answer 2 out of 20

by Glenn Blaylock on Aug 9, 2005 at 10:53 pm Permalink

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When I was taking driver training many turnings of the seasons ago, I was taught that you should never drive with just the parking lights on. It did not matter what time of the day it was. Because of this I wondered what was the point to parking lights in the first place. I finally figured it out when I was on a trip with my parents and we decided to just drive nonstop from Provo, UT, to Santa Barbara, CA. This is a trip that we would normally do over two days. So, we were driving until the wee hours of the morning. During that drive, I saw many semitrucks parked on the freeway on and off ramps with the just their parking lights on. If these lights had not been on, I probably would not have known they were even there. Obviously, the truck drivers had stopped for some sleep. Leaving the parking lights on let others usinging those ramps know that the trucks were there with out putting as much of a drain on the batteries as leaving the headlights on would. Since that time, I have used this trick myself when I have had to pull over to the side of a road after dark to sleep on long drives.
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Avatar Max Power Mar, 08 2006 at 04:01 PM
Damn, that makes sense. Parking lights are for when you are parked!
Avatar Shadow is Gone Jun, 08 2008 at 06:41 AM
Good answer, Glenn. The "clue" is in the name.

Answer 3 out of 20

by geek860 on Dec 28, 2005 at 10:02 pm Permalink

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I say never from dawn to dusk. It looks cool until you get rammed by someone who didnt see you.

I use parking lights when I'm stopped outside waiting for someone, at a drivein, or other safe areas. They look cool on my car so I like using them :) but when I'm moving I have DRLs so I can't not have headlights on unless I remove the bulbs...
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Avatar Answers101 Mar, 19 2006 at 07:49 AM
Great answer!

Answer 4 out of 20

by James D on Aug 4, 2005 at 2:27 pm Permalink

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You should never drive with just your parking lights on. Most states mandate that your headlights be on at all times while driving at night or in bad weather. Also, Fog lights also require headlights to be on along with them.
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Avatar John D Aug, 04 2005 at 02:31 PM
Agreed! Parking lights indicate your vehicle is stationary, so you would never drive with them on.
Avatar Jaymez L Sep, 13 2005 at 05:01 PM
Some newer vehicles, such as the '06 Chevy Express Van have the parking lights double as DRLs.

Answer 5 out of 20

by James Edwards on Aug 9, 2005 at 8:42 am Permalink

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This answer was last edited on: Aug 10, 2005
You should feel free to drive with your parking lights on at any time during the day. Most cars made now come with "Daytime Running Lights." Having your parking lights on during the day helps increase your visibility.

However, you should NEVER use just your parking lights in times of poor visibility, night, rain, etc. Use your headlights...
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Avatar Anonymous Aug, 10 2005 at 01:04 PM
Wrong.  If your car has DRLs, use them.  Otherwise, full lighting or none at all.
Avatar jerv Aug, 10 2005 at 07:13 PM
Good answer, ESPECIALLY the second part. Bob - I've had no DRLs on my last four cars.

Answer 6 out of 20

by An0nym0us on Aug 20, 2005 at 11:31 pm Permalink

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Nobody answered the question! :-) The only time I've ever driven with just my parking lights is exiting or entering a drive-in theatre while the movie is playing. You drive real slow and be prepared to flash your full beams if some numbnuts doesn't see you and is driving towards you.
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Avatar andywho Jan, 06 2006 at 08:29 PM
Good answer. Just make sure you have removed the speaker from your window.
Avatar An0nym0us Jun, 08 2008 at 11:28 AM
teehee, funny! Damn, you haven't been to a drive-in in a LONG time huh? :-P They transmit the sound on an AM or FM channel now which you can just tune into on your car stereo...

Answer 7 out of 20

by Firebrand on Nov 10, 2007 at 3:40 pm Permalink

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When there are within city lights, this is in the UK.
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Answer 8 out of 20

by hamish on Nov 10, 2007 at 3:39 pm Permalink

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In the UK, it is legal to drive with parking lights on, only within city limits at night. But no one ever does this.

However, in dull weather, or light rain during daylight most people will use them rather than headlights.

However over here they are not called parking lights, but sidelights.
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Avatar Mushen Jun, 04 2008 at 12:18 AM
they should also be used when driving in fog (when you are using fog lights).

Answer 9 out of 20

by Jim on Aug 10, 2007 at 3:59 am Permalink

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In Norway it is mandatory to drive with your lights on all the time. When you rent a car the lights are automatically on. If you turn your parking lights on so you can see your dash board then it is obvious that you should have your lights on so people can see you. Parking lights only help people from behind you see since all of the tail lights are on the same way when your lights are on. I don't know how many times I have went to change lanes and could not see the jerk behind me because he was only driving with his parking lights on. All on or all off. Parking lights are for when you are parked so you don't blind people coming to wards you or if in a parked situation where other people are in front of you parked and you don't want to burn the back of their head off! LOL.
Jim
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Answer 10 out of 20

by saintsuperb on Mar 12, 2006 at 8:14 pm Permalink

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One thought.....why do you think they call them "parking lights"?... :)

They are for when your car is parked.....not for driving!
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