Louise is an SEO Writer for Spacer Technology, creating content for the Parkhound, WhereiPark, Spacer.com.au, and Spacer.com brands. Before joining Spacer, Louise wrote copies and blogs, news, retirement and financial education content. She is enthusiastic about reinforcing financial literacy and anything that can aid people in minimizing expenses and maximizing savings, which led to her passion for the sharing economy. She aims to educate people by translating complex ideas into easy-to-digest information and practical tips for maximum understanding and minimum migraine.
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What are parking lights, and do you still need them? Learn its purpose, where it’s located, and its relevance in modern car lighting systems.
Parking lights are lights installed in the front and rear of vehicles that are meant to be switched on when parked in dark areas or driving in dim lighting or poor visibility conditions. Also called sidelights, these lights are meant to make a parked vehicle visible to other road users and prevent possible collisions.
These lights were initially an essential part of a vehicle’s lighting system back in the 1960s when streets were not brightly lit at night, and regulations requiring its use were enforced until the end of the decade. By the 1970s, street lighting had improved, and the use of parking lights were no longer as necessary. Eventually, the existing regulations on parking lights loosened and, at present, only a few states still require turning it on under certain conditions, such as during low-visibility situations.
Along with the other automotive lights, parking lights can be turned on and off using the light switch lever behind the steering wheel or button or dial on the steering wheel or dashboard of the vehicle. Just look for back-to-back semicircles with three short lines that symbolize light beams (see image below).
When the parking light is selected, the following lights are turned on:
However, not all modern vehicles have a separate parking light switch nowadays – some have already been integrated with the headlight switch, so you won’t always find the symbol for it on the light switch or buttons in your vehicle. In this case, you can think of it as the exterior lights that usually activate along with the instrument lights.
Parking lights are meant to protect a vehicle when parked in narrow streets with poor lighting because it emits a dim glow that indicates its position to oncoming vehicles. That is, in case you park your car in a street with poor lighting and it gets dark, leaving your parking light on will warn any oncoming vehicle of your car’s presence to avoid a potential collision.
Parking lights are meant to complement the headlights, but they are not as bright and should never be used by itself when driving on the roads, as this is against the law.
You should turn on your parking lights when parked in narrow and dark streets, roads with poor street lighting, and when the road is foggy.
If you’re wondering why not use the headlights, it’s because high beams impair the vision of drivers coming from the opposite direction and low beams can drain your battery if left on for prolonged periods. However, parking lights use lights that are designed to consume less energy, so even if you leave them on overnight, you won’t return to find your car’s battery dead.
But if you plan to park longer, it’s best to find an alternative parking space in a secure, well-lit location instead. Even low-consumption lights can still drain a fully charged car battery when left on for days. Platforms like Spacer can help you find secure, convenient, and affordable parking locations across the U.S.
A word of advice: never ever use parking lights as an alternative to headlights because that is against the law.
Many car models have already integrated parking lights with headlights, and the automatic Daytime Running Lights have more use nowadays. However, it can still be useful when parking in dark areas or your parked vehicle isn’t illuminated by the nearest streetlight.
You can also opt to use parking lights when driving during times when the sky is no longer bright out but it’s also not dark enough to use the headlights. This can be at dawn, dusk, or when the weather is bad, such as during rain or fog.
While enforcement on the use of parking lights is no longer strict, be aware that the following states still have existing parking laws about its usage that must be followed.
State | Rules/Law | Details |
California | Requires parking lights when parked on a highway or shoulder at night with less than 200 feet of visibility. | Parking lights must be used to ensure visibility to oncoming traffic in low-light conditions. |
Florida | Requires parking lights when parked on the highway or shoulder at night or in low-light conditions. | Parking lights are required for visibility when parked on the side of the road in poor lighting. |
Michigan | Requires parking lights or hazard lights when parked on the highway at night. | This ensures visibility to other drivers when parked in low-visibility areas. |
Nevada | Requires parking lights when parked on the highway at night or in low-visibility conditions. | To make the vehicle visible to other drivers in dark or poorly lit conditions. |
North Carolina | Requires parking lights when parked on the shoulder of the highway at night. | This is for safety to make vehicles visible to oncoming traffic at night. |
Georgia | Requires parking lights when parked on the side of the road at night. | Parking lights should be used if visibility is poor. |
Minnesota | Requires parking lights when parked on the roadway at night or in low-visibility areas. | Parking lights are mandatory to reduce the risk of collisions in dark conditions. |
New York | Requires parking lights when parked on the side of the road in low-visibility areas. | This is for situations like narrow streets or poor lighting where visibility is limited. |
Alaska | Requires parking lights when parked on the roadway at night or in poor visibility conditions. | Ensures the parked vehicle is visible to other drivers, especially in rural or dark areas. |
Texas | Requires parking lights when parked on the roadway or shoulder at night or in low-visibility conditions. | To make the vehicle visible to other drivers in dark or poorly lit areas. |
While the usage of parking lights is no longer strictly enforced in the U.S. beginning the 1970s, they are still useful depending on the location and situation.
Some states still require drivers to turn on their parking lights if the vehicle is parked at night on a lay-by or the side of a road with a speed limit that is 30 mph and higher. However, you must turn them on regardless of the speed limit when the roads are foggy to enhance your vehicle’s visibility. Remember: use parking or low beam lights only because brighter lights, such as high beams, would only reflect light and worsen driving conditions.
Likewise, if you happen to be driving while on a trip overseas, you should know that some European countries and Australia still enforce the use of parking lights. Make sure you learn how to operate it in your vehicle and know the local laws so you don’t get a ticket for not using your parking lights.
Louise is an SEO Writer for Spacer Technology, creating content for the Parkhound, WhereiPark, Spacer.com.au, and Spacer.com brands. Before joining Spacer, Louise wrote copies and blogs, news, retirement and financial education content. She is enthusiastic about reinforcing financial literacy and anything that can aid people in minimizing expenses and maximizing savings, which led to her passion for the sharing economy. She aims to educate people by translating complex ideas into easy-to-digest information and practical tips for maximum understanding and minimum migraine.
Louise is an SEO Writer for Spacer Technology, creating content for the Parkhound, WhereiPark, Spacer.com.au, and Spacer.com brands. Before joining Spacer, Louise wrote copies and blogs, news, retirement and financial education content. She is enthusiastic about reinforcing financial literacy and anything that can aid people in minimizing expenses and maximizing savings, which led to her passion for the sharing economy. She aims to educate people by translating complex ideas into easy-to-digest information and practical tips for maximum understanding and minimum migraine.
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