# Restaurant parking in front of dining area windows. Should cars kill their headlights quickly? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 16, 2015, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617 "2015-12-16T16:36:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617/21 "2015-12-16T19:05:42Z")
Up-scale hamburger place? “And shall Madame be having the pomme frites this evening?” ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617/22 "2015-12-16T19:07:09Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > I’ll say this. Many people who drive up to such a place aren’t keeping the lights on because they don’t give a shit that they are shinning lights on people. They are doing it because the thought never crossed their i am in my own little universe minds. > > Which is how much inconsiderate behavior arises in society for that matter. > > The bigger problem is that when you point out such behavior, many people get butthurt about it rather than going “my bad, won’t do that again” Yep, I agree. Most assholes in this world are just walking collections of a massive number of small “own little universe” behaviors, combined with a latent desire to always be first in line. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617/23 "2015-12-16T19:12:21Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Up-scale hamburger place? > “And shall Madame be having the pomme frites this evening?” No, but do pass the Grey Poupon, _s’il vous plaît_! ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617/24 "2015-12-16T19:13:28Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Up-scale hamburger place? > “And shall Madame be having the pomme frites this evening?” The upscale places have bathrooms you can use…the low scale places not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617/25 "2015-12-16T19:14:46Z")
> [@SmellMyWort](#): > > Activating the parking brake might kill the DRLs. Nope. 2009 Pontiac Vibe and if anyone can tell me how to kill the headlights without pulling a fuse or re-wiring the lights I’d love to know. It might actually get me back to the drive-in. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617/26 "2015-12-16T19:15:17Z")
Oh, the Irony. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617/27 "2015-12-16T19:17:37Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I noticed last night some car just sat in one of those parking spots with the headlights shining into those booths. **The people eating didn’t seem to react**. Maybe they were normal people that don’t let little things like this get under their skin. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617/28 "2015-12-16T19:21:16Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Maybe they were normal people that don’t let little things like this get under their skin. I dare you get out of your running car and come in and tell me that to my face 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617/29 "2015-12-16T19:54:11Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > I dare you get out of your running car and come in and tell me that to my face 🙂 I figured as much. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617/30 "2015-12-16T20:16:38Z")
> [@Cyros](#): > > I’d love to but my car has either full headlights or daytime running lights (depending on ambient light) on whenever the car is running with no way to turn them off. [Even when the parking brake is set?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17739169&postcount=19) ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617/31 "2015-12-16T20:23:11Z")
How can a driver not notice the spotlight they’re throwing on people right in front of them? Jeez, just because the restaurant didn’t show any foresight into their design doesn’t mean one can’t still show some consideration. ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617/32 "2015-12-16T20:40:26Z")
You know who else was inconsiderate with regards to his headlight use? ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617/33 "2015-12-16T20:51:52Z")
In the photo you posted, there is a significant elevation difference between the parking spaces and the eating space. Not that there wouldn’t of course still be some glare, but it’s not like the headlights would be pointing _directly_ at the people sitting inside. Whereas there are some restaurants that this is exactly the case, and where I think it would be a little more obnoxious. Basically, in that photo if you are in a car in the front space most of your headlight light is getting absorbed/reflected in the hedges, not in the eating area. Not a big deal at all. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617/34 "2015-12-16T21:02:02Z")
> [@Cyros](#): > > 2009 Pontiac Vibe and if anyone can tell me how to kill the headlights without pulling a fuse or re-wiring the lights I’d love to know. It might actually get me back to the drive-in. With my Jeep Wrangler I’ve been able to turn off the silly “hill holder” clutch as well as the seatbelt dinging via sets of specific actions (turn key to this position, tap brake peddle twice, turn wheel all the way to the right…). Do most cars have similar designs? ETA: I found this info in a Jeep forum. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617/35 "2015-12-16T21:16:41Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > [Even when the parking brake is set?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17739169&postcount=19) > [@kayaker](#): > > With my Jeep Wrangler I’ve been able to turn off the silly “hill holder” clutch as well as the seatbelt dinging via sets of specific actions (turn key to this position, tap brake peddle twice, turn wheel all the way to the right…). > > Do most cars have similar designs? > > ETA: I found this info in a Jeep forum. Looks like it’s a common complaint with the Vibe. There is a mod to [disable them](http://forums.genvibe.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=28390) but it involves digging into the dash and cutting a wire. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617/36 "2015-12-16T23:10:04Z")
Yes, of course they should kill their lights asap, whether it’s at a restaurant or someone’s residence. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617/37 "2015-12-16T23:39:48Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Up-scale hamburger place? > > The valet parking attendant will do whatever is appropriate. > [@kayaker](#): > > Up-scale hamburger place? > “And shall Madame be having the pomme frites this evening?” Such places do actually exist. Here is one from celebrity chef Michael Symon. [http://bspotburgers.com/](http://bspotburgers.com/) The one near me actually does offer valet parking. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617/38 "2015-12-17T00:29:49Z")
> [@Cyros](#): > > I’d love to but my car has either full headlights or daytime running lights (depending on ambient light) on whenever the car is running with no way to turn them off. I’ll turn the car off as soon as I can or drive off as soon as possible but sometimes you need to run the car for a while before you can move (defrost during Canadian winters and such). This is pretty much what I was going to say, other than the Canada part. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617/39 "2015-12-17T00:42:44Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Yes, of course they should kill their lights asap, whether it’s at a restaurant or someone’s residence. For that matter, kill your headlights when you’re parked alongside a pedestrian sidewalk too. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617/40 "2015-12-17T01:30:55Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Maybe they were normal people that don’t let little things like this get under their skin. Normal people don’t like having bright lights shined in their faces. Seriously. Don’t take my word for it. Go ask them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-parking-in-front-of-dining-area-windows-should-cars-kill-their-headlights-quickly/740617.md?page=3)