# What was up with the lights on this truck? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 1, 2025, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277 "2025-12-01T01:59:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2025, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277/81 "2025-12-03T19:03:33Z")
So once you’ve learned to expect underbody lighting, you won’t have a problem with it? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277/82 "2025-12-03T19:04:23Z")
When you live where you see multiple underglows every night you stay out late, they’re not really very unexpected. That’s around here. When you live where they’re flat illegal, they’re very unexpected. That’s certainly a few states. Life in the boonies, ruralia, low density suburbia, high density suburbia, and urban are each very different experiences with very different kinds of driving. In the city it can be hard to even see cars at night except as obstructions blocking all the lights from buildings and stores and advertising. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2025, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277/83 "2025-12-03T19:35:31Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > do you get distracted by the lights only on the highway - or also in neighbourhood streets? Personally, i do sometimes get distracted by lights. In particular, there’s a new street light on my route home that looks a lot like the flow of a car about to come around the corner. It’s taking me a while to get used to this, and i think it’s going to remain a net negative for me, although presumably it helps someone. I’m not understanding why car underlights are going to be any more distracting than car running lights, though. I’m guessing I’d find them a net win. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > When you live where you see multiple underglows every night you stay out late, they’re not really very unexpected. That’s around here. Yeah, i assume if i lived where they were used, i would rapidly become accustomed to them. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2025, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277/84 "2025-12-03T20:32:59Z")
I guess not. Except it’s dumb and pointless. Sure we all pick styles and clothes and whatnot, but this is just completely dumb. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2025, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277/85 "2025-12-03T20:48:11Z")
If I was prioritizing the unexpected distractions I worry about where I drive, I’d want them to outlaw deer. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2025, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277/86 "2025-12-03T20:54:57Z")
Moose are worse. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2025, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277/87 "2025-12-03T20:57:17Z")
Moose with underglow lighting and spinners are the absolute worst. 🤢 ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2025, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277/88 "2025-12-03T20:59:50Z")
Moose with underglow lighting would be better than regular moose, i suspect. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2025, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277/89 "2025-12-03T21:00:47Z")
I would have hated that in my yard. Otherwise, they where cool. There were our ‘lawn’ mowers. Best to keep you distance though. When something is not afraid of you, there is a reason for that. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2025, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277/90 "2025-12-03T22:27:25Z")
Don’t forget the ones with frickin’ laser beams on their foreheads. Those areceven worse. > [@enipla](#): > > When something is not afraid of you, there is a reason for that. Now that’s some wisdom. If they’re not afraid, that means it’s your turn to be afraid. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277/91 "2025-12-04T01:24:57Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Do all you glow-haters complain about semi trucks festooned with 1000 lights? [I suppose it depends on how intimidating it is.](https://cdllife.com/2025/wisconsin-troopers-nab-trucker-for-green-eye-lighting-on-windshield/) ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277/92 "2025-12-04T01:28:45Z")
The only time I saw under carriage lights on the highway was an eerily green lit vehicle off in the distance. It started rising in front of me and kept going until it disappeared… over the top of a hill. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277/93 "2025-12-04T03:55:05Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Moose are worse. I’m taking a completely self-centered perspective on this issue. I’ve never seen a moose in the wild. But I see deer all the time. Earlier this year, there was one hour-long drive where I saw twenty-six. (I see enough deer that I’ve made a game out of counting them.) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277/94 "2025-12-04T12:41:05Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’m taking a completely self-centered perspective on this issue. I’ve never seen a moose in the wild. My wife and I would let each other know when there where moose in the yard. Mostly because we did not know, or want to find out how our dogs would react. For a while, it was a daily occurrence. Same with bears, but that was pretty rare. But if mom and her cubs where on our deck, or in one of our cars, it was a bit more serious. Yes, they open car doors and get in. If you lock your door, they just rip the handle off. They did break the top of my wifes in-between storage box in the front seat. Nothing serious, just doesn’t latch shut now. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277/95 "2025-12-04T12:46:58Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Do all you glow-haters complain about semi trucks festooned with 1000 lights? Funky-shaped LED headlights? Tiny, oddly-placed taillights? Red and whit reflectors on trucks? pro-trump bumper sticker? because all of those can be or are annoying and distracting.. Yes and just one of the reasons I hate night driving. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277/96 "2025-12-04T13:03:45Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > Yes and just one of the reasons I hate night driving. Me too. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2025, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277/97 "2025-12-05T00:40:09Z")
Eh, _in general_ I find underglow set ups to be tacky (to me!), and pointless, but I don’t think it’s wrong or should be illegal as long as the lights don’t appreciably extend past the cars footprint. The problem is that a number of such options, due to owner choice, poor installation, or because they’re doing it for low-level trolling are shining the lights in a way that makes for substantial impairment of others adjacent to them. The example provided by @Whack-a-Mole upthread? Borderline - between the size of the base vehicle and the lift, some of that light could be shining in through the windows of a low slung sedan, and that’s a hazard IMHO. Or, for a rather extreme example, here’s one discussed by one of the board favorites, LegalEagle: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/GrezsD2LkNk/maxresdefault.jpg "Real Lawyer Reacts to Illegal Car Mods") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrezsD2LkNk&t=1133) (this should start at the right point, 18:53 if it doesn’t) Note again, lifted truck, and far to bright IMHO. But again, if dimmer and low to the ground, while not my thing, it’s not _dangerous_ IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2025, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277/98 "2025-12-05T00:48:02Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > A fad that seems to have pretty thoroughly run its course. The only very cool use of it (still) that I can think of is Rolls Royce makes it so the RR logo at the center of their hubcap doesn’t spin so anyone can easily read the RR logo as you speed down the road. If I had a Rolls Royce I’d want that bit of bling. (I will never have a Rolls Royce and, even if I ever had enough money to buy any car I wanted, price is of no concern, it wouldn’t be a Rolls Royce…that said I’d be happy to drive one given the chance). ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2025, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277/99 "2025-12-05T00:52:01Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Do all you glow-haters complain about semi trucks festooned with 1000 lights? Funky-shaped LED headlights? Tiny, oddly-placed taillights? Well…what are the limits to it? Apparently there is a sub-culture in Japan where truckers festoon their rigs with lights: [![](https://www.tenfourmagazine.com/content/wp-content/uploads/sites/1/nggallery/apr2018tatw/Japan09.jpg) ](https://www.tenfourmagazine.com/content/wp-content/uploads/sites/1/nggallery/apr2018tatw/Japan09.jpg) [![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUniRPMA3dRbQYFir46JwChs7icHzllszDZArDWMjjVpPNBvlKrTWpSL7kEtCzf3sztsvo9wSPT-Nz6yTbtJh1oO4RJ9QT0L-8ihkV0kOUg6RqVKaJFVkBYfi4BMKcFZ07tFCu-ChZRvMP/s1600/dekotora12.jpg) ](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUniRPMA3dRbQYFir46JwChs7icHzllszDZArDWMjjVpPNBvlKrTWpSL7kEtCzf3sztsvo9wSPT-Nz6yTbtJh1oO4RJ9QT0L-8ihkV0kOUg6RqVKaJFVkBYfi4BMKcFZ07tFCu-ChZRvMP/s1600/dekotora12.jpg) [![](https://psmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15274343968_cf7b01fd3c_ojpg.jpg) ](https://psmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15274343968_cf7b01fd3c_ojpg.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2025, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277/100 "2025-12-05T00:53:16Z")
I think those are tacky and ugly, but don’t see any reason to ban them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-up-with-the-lights-on-this-truck/1025277.md?page=6)