Headlights 101

December 17, 2008

I've been wanting to rant about one of my driving pet peeves for some time. I doubt it'll have any effect on anyone, really. But, I have to get it off my chest. Headlights are not at all complicated to operate.

Before I go further I want to mention that there is a strict difference between parking lights (or parking lamps) and low beam headlights. Parking lights are used as "identification lights" to warn other vehicles of your presence on the road. In the case of parking lamps being on by themselves (since the late 1960's), they're supposed to signal a stopped or parked vehicle! "It is now illegal in most countries to drive a vehicle with parking lamps illuminated." If you're concerned about saving gas, it is impossible for a 14+ volt alternator (which generates 14+ all the time) to require more gas than normal to run a 12 volt set of headlights. 12 is less than 14.

Now, headlights are used for forward and lateral lighting of the road. These are used to see in low light situations. They also allow other cars to see you in low light situations like fog, dawn or dusk, rain and nighttime driving. In fact, it's actually illegal, at least in North Carolina, to drive in the rain without your headlights. Notice, in all of the links they mention "low beam headlights"!

Do the responsible and intelligent thing—turn on your headlights. It's really hard to see cars in low light situations without head lamps on. Especially grey cars (which seem to be the biggest culprit).

Headlights 101

December 17, 2008

Mark Caron

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