Headlights. Why do some people drive in bad weather with just their sidelights on?

Question

I find some cars, especially dark coloured ones, very difficult to see in poor weather conditions, fog, heavy rain, etc. As far as I am aware, it costs nothing to put the headlights on, and they don't drain the battery as long as the engine is running yet people are so reluctant to use them. I was taught to consider sidelights as parking lights.

I've often wondered this.

Phew! Glad it's not just me!

tmctagga - I live in the Highlands also and I use the A82 Inverness-Fort William road quite a bit. This is a dangerous road at the best of times, but not being able to see cars in foul conditions, makes it even more so.

Thank you all for your replies so far.

Answer 1

I always used the rule, wipers on, lights on. I suspect you are right when you say they think they are saving electricity. In other countries side lights are, indeed, known as parking lights, and that is all they should be used for. Same rule applies to being in fog or mist, if visibility is poor, then dipped headlights are a must

Answer 2

I don't drive much nowadays but there was quite a debate about this many years ago before new laws were introduced. I find in dim light I can see better if cars only use sidelights. If cars use headlights I can only see the lights and nothing else; with sidelights I am able to see if there are other road users, such as pedestrians, in the area. A law was introduced to make headlights compulsory in bad visibility. Visibility is the distance that one can see, so if one can see to the end of the road there is no need for headlights. The answer is dim dip lights, which are now fitted to many cars.
Headlights do use more energy than sidelights. It's got to come from somewhere so, ultimately more fuel will be used.
My opinion is that headlights are in order to be able to see where you are going. Sidelights should be adequate to be seen by except in exceptional conditions such as poor visibility. But if sidelights can't be seen what chance does a poor cyclist have?
Putting headlights on in daylight, when a cloud goes over the sun or when there is a shower is just pig ignorance. Says a lot about Volvo owners.

Answer 3

Some may think they don't need lights to see the way in daylight, not realising that the purpose is to BE seen, but many are probably just bloody-minded - I was like that once until I got some sense. The same applied to wearing seat belts when the regulation first came out - I was darned if I would wear one! Now I'm older (85) and wiser.

I was motoring a couple of years ago in Holland, Germany and Denmark, and I noticed that dipped headlights were required all day regardless of the weather. Nowadays I regularly switch on if there's the slightest doubt about being seen, particularly when I'm overtaking. It's especially important for motor cyclists.

Answer 4

I DO NOT like daytime running lights because at night it can give the driver the false impression that their nighttime driving lights are on. I've seen this happen many many times before. Driving in pitch black night and the only lights on are their headlights, not tail lights too, which indicates to me they have their light swtich off and jsut the daytim running lights are on. I think this is actually a safety hazard. And no, some people are not intelligent enough to realize their gauges are not illuminated, indicating to them their lights are in fact off. The only intelligent daytime running lights sytem I've found to be truly intelligent is the system Volvo used in the mid-90's. Basically, all exterior lights and interior lights are on all the time. This may sounds stupid, BUT it ellinimates the possibility of driver error. The only problem with this is that you have to remember to turn the headlight switch "on" before you can operate your highbeams. My Mom leaves her headlight switch "on" in her Volvo 940 all the time, since it makes no different to have it turned off. This way, when it's nighttime, she can use her highbeams at will and not have to figure out if the light switch is on or off. I don't understand why automakers don't just eliminate the light switch completely, and just leave the high beam lever. Having your lights on all the time while driving is not a bad thing. It would of course have to have lights that go off with the car though, which many newer cars have now anyway. Seems like the only intelligent solution to me. As for fog lights, there is usually a seperate switch or button for those anyway. That could stay the same.

Answer 5

Totally agree. I often drive in the Highlands and I wish the government would follow the lead in Scandanavian countries where headlights are on all the time. The cars (such as Volvos) have this as a setting at time of production and nobody gives it a second thought. It has cut the number of serious accidents and deaths significantly

Answer 6

.....They are just lazy and inconsiderate. The department of transport recommends turning on headlights as soon as it starts raining.
As to your point about costing nothing to use headlights, you are wrong. When you turn on your lights it puts a drain on the battery which needs charging by the alternator to maintain full charge. As the engine is working harder, you are using more fuel, all be it, a small amount.
The argument can also be used for people who forget to turn off their fog lights when its not foggy too, or people who sit in the middle or outside lane when not over taking. It's just inconsideration of the human race. It will never change, sadly.

Answer 7

You are correct, sidelights are for parking.
Another point is that fog lamps are not substitutes for dipped headlights, which is a very common misuse of them.

As the police get more money from speeding offences they seem reluctant to enforce the lighting laws.

Rob

Answer 8

perhaps this is something that is in the highway code and IF it is IT should be DEALT with by police and them being fined your right if visibility is poor people need to use full lights apart from anything else there are other road users that they won't see eg bicyclist, motorbikes pedestrians animals all of which are vulnerable to the lethal weapon they are negligently in control of, perhaps cars should be fitted with a light sensor so the lights come on automatically so the morons don't need to think about it but no i think if they are an idiot take there licence away from them before they kill someone

Answer 9

The only time you should do this is in Fog. The headlights reflect off the Fog inhibiting the drivers vision. But, if you drive in Fog you should have Amber Fog lights on you car.

Answer 10

I'd rather they used sidelights than no lights like around here! Honestly sometimes you can only see about 25 metres ahead of you cos of fog here and still people drive with no lights on!!

It's pure lunacy.