Low-Beam at night, legal?

Hequn

Hequn

Hequn

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Joined
4 Jan 2003
Posts
1,609
Location
Oldham, Gtr Manchester
Having problems with the Volvo at the moment, when I switch it from the low beam setting to the dipped lights setting nothing changes, had a look at the connections to the lights and to the CEM inside but I can't see anything wrong, same with the connector to the switches. It's annoying because every single other setting works i.e. low beam, front & rear fogs, main/flash beam.

So I'm wondering, until I can get it into the garage, is it legal to drive at night with just the low beam lights on? I don't fancy using the main beams as that's probably going to just blind people...

Or, does anyone have a clue what's wrong with my car? lol. I've asked on a Volvo forum but I'm yet to hear anything back.
 
Hequn said:
Having problems with the Volvo at the moment, when I switch it from the low beam setting to the dipped lights setting nothing changes, had a look at the connections to the lights and to the CEM inside but I can't see anything wrong, same with the connector to the switches. It's annoying because every single other setting works i.e. low beam, front & rear fogs, main/flash beam.

So I'm wondering, until I can get it into the garage, is it legal to drive at night with just the low beam lights on? I don't fancy using the main beams as that's probably going to just blind people...

Or, does anyone have a clue what's wrong with my car? lol. I've asked on a Volvo forum but I'm yet to hear anything back.
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Don't go driving around at night with faulty lights. It's a stupid thing to do.

Can't you also clarify what you mean by "low beam" lights? Do you mean sidelights?
 
I suspect that its not only illegal but could very well get you in trouble as you would have to either say that you didn't realise or admit driving a defective car.

Either way its not a good idea at all.
 
It is legal to use only sidelights in a built up area. However outside of this you wont be able to see where you are going :confused:
 
Sidelights (sometimes incorporating a dim-dip or DRL system)
Dipped Lights
Main/High Beam

It goes in that order.

As Fox states, it is only acceptable to use sidelights at night in built up areas - plus when you leave built up areas you can no longer see anything.

Check the bulbs and the fuses.
 
Hequn said:
Sorry, by low beam I mean the one's that you turn on when it's slightly dark as opposed to the normal night driving lights. If that's side lights, then those.
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You literally will not be able to see where you are going on sidelights.

On a personal note, i hate people who use sidelights when it is dark - they do pretty much nothing. It is literally like having a candle in your headlights and it is impossible to see people with only sidelights on. I just don't understand what benefit there can be from just using sidelights as opposed to having dipped beams on. Either put your lights on fully, or don't put them on at all.
 
Gaygle said:
Y
On a personal note, i hate people who use sidelights when it is dark - they do pretty much nothing. It is literally like having a candle in your headlights and it is impossible to see people with only sidelights on.
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A mighty 5 watts if I remember rightly!

I have four of them and it still wouldn't be good enough to see where I'm going at night

Manta129.jpg
 
I thought sidelights were parking lights and only to be used when parking on the wrong side of the road
 
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