Are sidelights pointless?

I remember being told by some police instructor driver a few years ago that technically sidelights arn't legal you should always go straight to dipped beam but its one of those never enforced rules, probably complete tosh.

I do however never run sidelights only as i would much rather been seen earlier as anything i can do to avoid an avoidable accident i'll do :) I'd be quite happy to have dipped beam on all the time as in some european countries and also all motorbikes, makes it easy to see which cars are moving/about to move especially in traffic.
 
My current car doesn't even have separate sidelights.
So mine go:

DRL's (Brightest Settings)
DRL's (Dimmed Setting) plus rears
Headlights

I have auto-lights so I don't know how often my car goes into the middle setting - but I'm guessing not all that often.
Cannot think of any situation where sidelights would be a preference to headlights - they should just do away with the things.
 
When I used to do deliveries it really irritated me when people had dipped lights on before it was properly dark. Sidelights are for evening conditions where visibilty isnt lowered so much but its good to have lights on so other people/pedestrians can see you.
 
I always have sidelights on when driving my truck, anything that enhances the visibility can't be a bad thing imo.

That said, to the vast majority of drivers, the thing still seems invisible given how often people pull out on me when really they shouldn't.

So no, not pointless at all imo. :)
 
I use them when I want my display lit up as in my older car that is the only time they come on grrr, other than that yes I agree.
 
Also if your main beam breaks at night at least other cars can see the sidelights to distinguish between an oncoming car or bike...
 
DiCe! said:
I use them when I want my display lit up as in my older car that is the only time they come on grrr, other than that yes I agree.
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Tbh this is why I started running with my sidelights on all the time in my truck, my first "R Series" Scania did the opposite - the dash illuminates with the lights on or off, too many times I found myself at dusk driving along thinking I'd got my lights on when in fact they were not. :o
 
phil675 said:
When I used to do deliveries it really irritated me when people had dipped lights on before it was properly dark. Sidelights are for evening conditions where visibilty isnt lowered so much but its good to have lights on so other people/pedestrians can see you.
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That makes no sense to me. If it's getting dull/dark and you want people to be able to see you dipped beams are perfect - they dont blind anyone and are bright enough to be noticable even in the corner of your eye. When using sidelights, whilst the rears will be bright enough to be noticed, the fronts in many cars (my e46 for example) are so dim that you would never notice them from any meaningful distance.

As per most others the auto lights are left on, but even when I'm driving the mrs car without auto lights I rarely, if ever used just the sidelights
 
The only time mine ever get used is around dusk time, not because I need my lights on to see but my dash only lights up when I put lights on. I could switch straight to dipped beam but don't see the point of putting headlights on unless I actually need them to see where I am going.
 
desires said:
Well? Personally I can't stand the things. I can only assume the light conditions where they are useful is very minuscule.

Whenever I see a car with them on I either think 'i saw your car before I noticed the side lights, why bother' or 'you should really switch to your dipped beam so I can see you better'

My Audi's auto light setting has never once remained at side lights for more than half a second, normally carrying on straight to dipped beams or from beams through to off.

I think they should be banned.

What's your opinion of them?
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I think you need to get out more, if that's all it takes to rile you up :D
 
Irish_Tom said:
I have genuinely never used parking lights in my life.

Side lights are pointless — full-beam of off, that's all you need. :D
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Full beam? So you are one of those drivers who go around blinding everyone? :mad:

I just keep the Xenons on, they look cool but mostly leave it on auto, I like when I drive into a tunnel or long bridge underpass and suddenly the xenons come on with a blue tint then settle into a wall of white light :D
 
Scania said:
I always have sidelights on when driving my truck, anything that enhances the visibility can't be a bad thing imo.

So no, not pointless at all imo. :)
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So why not just use dipped beams? Even better visibility than sidelights?

I just don't see where the logic arises that there is a particular point where people feel a sidelight is providing an enhanced visibility due to outputting light but a dipped beam wouldn't be better?
 
I tend to drive with my sidelights on when I feel visibility is less than perfect. I think it stems from the fact I drive a low down car and it irritates me when people drive around with their main beams on during the day as at certain angles they can be quite dazzling and I like to make sure I'm not doing the same.
 
If someone is driving around with their main beams on constantly then they're a certifiable retard day or night but I don't see how a dipped beam (which is what I suspect you really mean) is going to be anymore dazzling during the day than it would be at night? If dipped beams are dazzling anyone then the lights are probably misaligned.
 
mattyprice4004 said:
Hope this is a joke, if not you're a to55er.
Why drive with them on if it's not foggy? It doesn't make your ****box car look any better.
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I've actually wired mine to be on permanently, even when the car is parked. Just so I get that warm fuzzy feeling they give me every hour of every day. Got it now? :cool:
 
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