# Why are they "parking lights"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 20, 2003, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206 "2003-12-20T20:25:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zardoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a8b319/32.png) [@Zardoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zardoz)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206/1 "2003-12-20T20:25:22Z")
…and what’s the point of them, anyway? I know I should remember this from my driver ed. days, but I’d rather hear it from you guys anyway. I mean, does anyone actually use those lights for parking? Or is it some antiquated use that no one does anymore? ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206/2 "2003-12-20T20:31:33Z")
Well, I remember fom my written driving test (whick I took almost twenty years ago), the correct answer to, “When do you use your parking lights?” was “When parking only.” ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206/3 "2003-12-20T20:35:25Z")
However, it seems in [West Virginia](http://www.wvdot.com/6_motorists/dmv/6g1e_practice.htm), you are to use your parking lights only while parked. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206/4 "2003-12-20T20:41:57Z")
I remember reading in one of the “Doc Savage” books that some character had never had any major run-ins with law, other than maybe a ticket for parking without leaving the parking lights on. That’s the only reference I’ve ever seen for their use. ---
**Author:** ![aerodave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f08c70/32.png) [@aerodave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aerodave)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206/5 "2003-12-20T20:48:44Z")
Having originally gotten my license in West Virginia, I can atest to that law. Driving with only your parking lights on is illegal, and they really will give you a ticket for it. I actually got into a converstaion about it once with a state trooper, and got to ask him why. His answer? “They’re called _parking_ lights.” It was delievered as seriously as you could imagine. How can you argue with logic like that? ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206/6 "2003-12-20T20:56:54Z")
My memory’s not failing me. According to [this](http://www.skillfuldrivingschool.com/sample-test.html) driving school in NJ (where I took my test), parking lots are to be used only when parking. What’s up with W. Virginia? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206/7 "2003-12-20T21:03:53Z")
In some European towns with old narrow streets, driving on a street that also has parked cars is a just-barely proposition. Parking lights are intended to be left on after dark to show a nighttime driver just how much room he has. To this end, some European cars had parking light switches with three positions – off, right side, and left side (after all, no need to have lights on at the curb side, only the road side). In the U.S., parking lights are virtually never needed this way, and never used this way (left on all night while parked). They actually could be useful as daytime running lights in low visibility conditions, with the advantage that they don’t tend to blind oncoming drivers the way headlights or factory daytime running lights do. However, them that writes vehicle regulations don’t like to think this hard, so they either ignore them or outlaw driving with them on. ---
**Author:** ![herman\_and\_bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f1d935/32.png) [@herman\_and\_bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/herman_and_bill)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206/8 "2003-12-20T21:39:53Z")
I think some automobiles turn the parking lights on automatically for the daytime running lights. Parking on the side of the road as in an emergency its a good way to mark your car with out using the headlights. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206/9 "2003-12-20T22:31:39Z")
That’s all we needs is thousands of cars with dead batterys every day. AAA would make bank though. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206/10 "2003-12-20T23:38:06Z")
Parking lights are for use IMO when DOUBLE PARKED (not a legal, but common sense use), to prevent being hit from behind. No need for full headlights then either, obviously. If only while double parked, they will not be on too long. You see this in large cities, like NY, that have very limited parking, for quick drop off, & pick up etc. They are intended not to be left on all night while parked at a curb. ---
**Author:** ![aaslatten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206/11 "2003-12-20T23:48:36Z")
I always thought parking lights were used when in a well-lighted parking garage, so as to avoid annoying other drivers with headlights. ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206/12 "2003-12-21T01:04:28Z")
You have to turn on the parking lights before you turn on your headlights. One switch follows the other. You can’t turn them off without turning everything off…or, what am I missing here? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206/13 "2003-12-21T05:45:33Z")
I’m with **doctordoowop**. ---
**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206/14 "2003-12-21T05:52:21Z")
Don’t know about the double-parking thing (makes sense, though). IIRC the European cars with the one-side only capable parking lights had a separate battery for the lights. They were also VERY low-wattage lights (all that design stuff for being left on all night, you know). In short, I have nothing except WAGs. ---
**Author:** ![hyjyljyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/0ea827/32.png) [@hyjyljyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hyjyljyj)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206/15 "2003-12-21T06:10:02Z")
I had a 79 Benz with those one-sided lights. No separate battery, just take your chances. I never once used them and still can’t see any reason to…except in the double-parking scenario, which is pretty far-fetched, being dangerous and illegal and all. ---
**Author:** ![biddee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@biddee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biddee)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206/16 "2003-12-21T06:31:12Z")
I always turn on my parking lights when visibility is low during the day, like during a rain storm or at dusk. It’s not dark enough for regular headlights, but the parking lights just give your car that extra visibility so that other cars know you’re coming. I did my driving test in South Africa and as far as I can remember that was what parking lights were used for, and also if you’re parking in the road on a dark street. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206/17 "2003-12-21T06:35:20Z")
Sorry biddee, I’m with the West Virginians. If visibility is a concern, use your headlights. Parking lights are for parking. ---
**Author:** ![HeidiKay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9fc348/32.png) [@HeidiKay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeidiKay)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206/18 "2003-12-21T07:39:15Z")
I know this isn’t what they were intended for, but when driving up to an open observatory at night, you turn off your headlights and drive only with the parking lights. It allows you to see where you’re driving without blinding the telescopes. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206/19 "2003-12-21T08:17:49Z")
Up to about twenty years ago in the UK the law stated that you had to leave you parking lights on all the time when parked , all night if neccesary. One reason was that in some towns the street lights used to be turned off after midnight. To save power on the battery you could use a small light that clipped onto your off-side window , had a white lens at the front and red lens at the rear. This plugged into the cigarette lighter socket and met the legal requirements. ---
**Author:** ![Blown\_Injected](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@Blown\_Injected](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blown_Injected)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206/20 "2003-12-21T08:41:19Z")
About 20 years ago the driving exam said that if one believes parking lights are needed, turn on the headlights; one shall not drive with parking lights - I see cops frequently driving around at dusk with only parking lights :rolleyes: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-parking-lights/220206.md?page=2)