# Dashboard Lighting **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 31, 2001, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-lighting/79075 "2001-08-31T04:55:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Buck\_The\_Diver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Buck\_The\_Diver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_The_Diver)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-lighting/79075/1 "2001-08-31T04:55:55Z")
Every vehicle I have ever owned has had a dimmer control for the instrument panel lights. Myself, I never had the thing set on other than its highest level. Yeah, I’d screw around with it every once in awhile (for about 15 seconds)…but it always went back to the highest setting. Does anyone ever actually adjust this thing? If so, for what purpose? ---
**Author:** ![gtzaskar00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@gtzaskar00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gtzaskar00)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-lighting/79075/2 "2001-08-31T05:16:35Z")
The only time I have set it all the way down was a time I kept the headlights on to light the way, took the keys out, and turned the interior lights all the way down to waste as little of the battery as possible. I can’t see any other reason for it. ---
**Author:** ![Tedster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@Tedster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tedster)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-lighting/79075/3 "2001-08-31T05:19:01Z")
If you’re making one of those marathon, I-have-to-get-across-the-country-by-tomorrow type drives, it’s sometimes nice to turn the dash lights down as they get a little too bright after 48 hours or so… If you’ve worn sunglasses at night while driving, you know what I’m talking about. ---
**Author:** ![sethdallob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@sethdallob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sethdallob)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-lighting/79075/4 "2001-08-31T05:48:39Z")
I turn mine down when I’m getting tired - it helps make the outside more visible and easier to spot other vehicles when I’m less than aware.