What are the point of sidelights?? (1 Viewer)

[Janine]

Sunny Shropshire is decidedly foggy today and apart from some idiots with no lights at all on their vehicles, a good 50% are driving on sidelights.

They are next to useless in these conditions. Are they trying to save electricity by not using dipped headlights??

So it got me thinking - in just what circumstances would the use of sidelights be ideal?

 

[cronkle]

For parking in unlit areas.
Bright and sunny this side of the county

 

[MC 55 FUN]

Sunny Shropshire is decidedly foggy today and apart from some idiots with no lights at all on their vehicles, a good 50% are driving on sidelights.

They are next to useless in these conditions. Are they trying to save electricity by not using dipped headlights??

So it got me thinking - in just what circumstances would the use of sidelights be ideal?

Is this of any use ? :

http://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/safety/automatic-lights

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[DavidG58]

I am regularly bemused by those that recognise the 'need' for lights, then turn on 1W sidelights and then often only have one of them working

then the ones with side lights on the front and high intensity on the rear who then have them on for the next few days probably wondering why people are flashing them

We have long since thought hi intensity lights front and back should in turn come with an in built speed restrictor, that would stop the rear fog lights flying down the motorway at 90mph

 

[jnn]

I dont think I've ever knowingly used mine whilst driving, very occasionally whilst parked

 

[DavidG58]

in answer to OP, while moving, never

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[mpdcymru]

Side lights only is not a possibility with my 2014 Peugeot - only one choice either headlights on or headlights off. Simples!

 

[pappajohn]

Town driving where headlamps aren't needed.
Except in Scarborough where every other street light has an 11w curly-wurly low energy bulb.

In lit areas side lights only are permitted.
In adverse weather dip beam should be used.

Although legally you can just use your sidelights at night so long as you’re driving under 30mph in a well-lit area, most people opt for dipped headlights instead - they do a much better job at lighting up the road ahead.

 

[Janine]

'Permitted' is a long way from 'safe' or even 'practical'!

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[MC 55 FUN]

'Permitted' is a long way from 'safe' or even 'practical'!

The highway code says ( rules 113 - 116 ) : https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-hig...-advice-for-all-drivers-and-riders-103-to-158

 

[pappajohn]

'Permitted' is a long way from 'safe' or even 'practical'!

Very true, you very rarely see sides only but it is legal.

 

[Rapido925M]

At 11pm one evening in March I went to pull onto the A7 at Ricmar, just east of Marbella. This necessitated a 90deg turn onto the dual carriageway, so I was stationary and proceeded slowly after looking to my left. Suddenly there was a blaring of horns and two cars hurtled past, neither with any lights showing. I was informed the next day that if the carriageway is illuminated, you don't need any lights .

I hate sidelight drivers more than I hate "no light" drivers: at least you can flash those and hope to see rear lamps light up .

Gordon

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[glenn2926]

Not half as annoying as the half wits that use rear fog lights when they are not required. How do they manage to have the brain power to turn them on but not know how to turn them off. As far as I am aware the requirement for using them is visibility below 100 feet. Try riding behind these idiots on a motorcycle with a wet visor.

 

[kalamitty]

i drive with mine on everytime in daylight, as i cant read the dash without but switch to headlights in low light. some cars the dash is lit up so the idiots dont even switch their lights on.

 

[EssexBoy]

I use my sidelights whenever it's dull but not dark which is when those with DRLs should be putting them on too.

DRLs are the devil's work, for me. Far too bright for most situations, and normally delay the driver putting on their headlights till well after dark.

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[sonny]

Clue used to be known as parking lights

 

[simsy56]

Town driving where headlamps aren't needed.
Except in Scarborough where every other street light has an 11w curly-wurly low energy bulb.

In lit areas side lights only are permitted.
In adverse weather dip beam should be used.

It may be legal, but dark mornings and evenings, more pedestrians, and school children are about. Any driving on 'sidelights' should be banned! I just don't get the mentality of parking light drivers..........you won't get an electricity bill!

Craig

 

[Ivory55]

Side lights indicate which is the side, not the back or front. So when returning from the pub you know which is the sides as that's where the doors are. Haha

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[tonyidle]

Very true, you very rarely see sides only but it is legal.

I wasn't aware of that and I'm one of perhaps a minority that would prefer to see headlights off in town. Oncoming (dipped) headlights 'hide' road users with less effective lights or none - like pedestrians and cyclists. I can't see any need for them on lit streets. And I don't use mine under those circumstances.

 

[tofo]

Sunny Shropshire is decidedly foggy today and apart from some idiots with no lights at all on their vehicles, a good 50% are driving on sidelights.

They are next to useless in these conditions. Are they trying to save electricity by not using dipped headlights??

So it got me thinking - in just what circumstances would the use of sidelights be ideal?

There is in my opinion
Only 2 positions for lights on a vehicle
Turned fully off
Turned fully on
Only exception is parked while waiting with engine off
Then sidelights are applicable


The headlights give others a clue you're there

 

[EssexBoy]

And the other point is that more/brighter lights do not equal better/safer...
Blinding another driver is worse than him not seeing you
if you blind him he's gonna hit someone else (pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist, car etc),
if he doesn't see you he'll only hit you....
That's why it's supposed to be the right lights for the right situation, not as many lights as you can..
As a motorcyclist myself, I really hate the current fashion for riding with main beam on "to be seen"

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[EX51SSS]

Not half as annoying as the half wits that use rear fog lights when they are not required. How do they manage to have the brain power to turn them on but not know how to turn them off. As far as I am aware the requirement for using them is visibility below 100 feet. Try riding behind these idiots on a motorcycle with a wet visor.

That would be 100 metres rather than feet

 

[PeteH]

Historically, Side lamps where for driving in Lighted Streets, and Parking in Darkened Streets. Bearing in mind that in many places in the past Street lighting was often switched off after 11pm, to conserve power!. Older Vehicles, had Dynamo`s which where less effective in powering Lights AND Charging at low engine speeds, habitually driving on "head" lights could lead to the battery not being fully charged, with subsequent starting issues!. "head" lights where therefore often confined to usage when in unlighted streets most of which where also unrestricted allowing higher engine speed and thereby better charging!.

The later change to alternator use made the foregoing less of an issue, but the requirement remained for "pilot" or side lights, for use when parked.

 

[glenn2926]

That would be 100 metres rather than feet

I'm not sure metres were invented when the Highway Code was written.

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[Tea Bag]

Hi.
Question. Why do you need lights on in the daytime (Other than fog/snow etc),to see something the size of a car ? Seems reasonable to think,if you cannot see it with no lights on you are not looking properly in the first place. Oh,i see xThumb: It HELPS you to see it.(See last line)
I have a Dacia Logan MCV 2016 over here,sometimes when i am closing the "High Security String" (Blue GPO rope slung between the end of a wall and the lamp post),the DNL? at a certain height (About 2'?) can burn your eyes out,they are that bright,so i pity small children walking across zebra a crossing in front of me,while i wait.
Who is up to coming on Dragons Den with me,launching "Clothes with DNL as Standard""
Tea Bag

 

[Reallyretired]

I dislike people who flash their main beams at night to 'thank' someone for giving way to them thus dazzling them.

 

[PeteH]

I'm not sure metres were invented when the Highway Code was written.

I refer my Learned Friend to the Emperor Napoleon, (1790`s) who was among the first to embrace the "La metere"?

BTW "old" Irish Miles where aprox 27% longer!!. So paddy had a longer walk to the pub!

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[EX51SSS]

I'm not sure metres were invented when the Highway Code was written.

Well you're probably right but weirdly enough it does get updated. When the Highway Code was written originally there were no mobile phones, hand held devices, in fact there weren't even motorways.
I'm not sure how far you are going back but metrication in the UK primarily started its journey in 1968 officially. I worked as a die setter in 1969 and everything for Export had to be in metric.
Also the most recent publication is obtainable at around the £2/2.50 whereas the original was 1 penny in 1931. However, it's pointless quoting from defunct Highway Code books as that may not be the correct situation.
I quoted the current status which is 100 metres which is correct so methinks you need to update your thinking.
I'm not blaming you for a cheap laugh but when it comes to the law, I don't think frivolity is the best solution, really, for you?

 

[mpdcymru]

I'm not sure metres were invented when the Highway Code was written.

Didn't the old guy with the funny hat and his hand tucked in his tunic playing with his left nipplke use the metre things?

 

[pappajohn]

Well you're probably right but weirdly enough it does get updated. When the Highway Code was written originally there were no mobile phones, hand held devices, in fact there weren't even motorways.
I'm not sure how far you are going back but metrication in the UK primarily started its journey in 1968 officially. I worked as a die setter in 1969 and everything for Export had to be in metric.
Also the most recent publication is obtainable at around the £2/2.50 whereas the original was 1 penny in 1931. However, it's pointless quoting from defunct Highway Code books as that may not be the correct situation.
I quoted the current status which is 100 metres which is correct so methinks you need to update your thinking.
I'm not blaming you for a cheap laugh but when it comes to the law, I don't think frivolity is the best solution, really, for you?
View attachment 139700

And of course, braking distances have never been updated from the days of drum brakes all round.
Thinking distance remains the same....the same distance in feet as the speed in mph.
But the actual stopping distance has all but halved with modern servo assisted disc brakes with ABS.

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