Driving

[sinderella]

If you need to put your lights on then put them on main beam
,side lights are the sign of a bad driver

[ericsavory]

The requirement for driving in poor visibility is DIPPED HEADLIGHTS NOT MAIN BEAM.

[gingejbee]

Main beam all the time? Bad driver!

[bookbinder]

Are you saying that blinding other drivers is the sign of a good driver?

[-SharonA-]

I don't put mine on full beam, except in bad weather. I hate being blinded by other drivers full beams!

[jno]

I think sinderella uses sthe same words as me: high-beam, main beam (what others call low beam or dipped) and side lights.

[sinderella]

main beam,not high beam
and definitely not parking/ side lights

[gingejbee]

The usual terminology is Main beam and Dipped beam....

[youngmafbog]

I think we all know what she meant. Just the usual pedanticness we get on here.

Yes sidelights are not good although modern LED running lights are better than some headlights it seems.

I suspect where no headlights on a modern car it is because they are set to Auto and Auto doesnt always react to weather.

[jno]

mine are on auto. This means they come on during the day and go off again when it gets dark.

[gingejbee]

"pedanticness"......really, is that even a word?

[ladybirder]

You can use sidelights when visibility is reduced but not to the point of needing headlights. They don't use as much power as headlights and it is legal to do so.

[New Judge]

To be pedantic, I think "pedantry" is the word required. :-)

[youngmafbog]

"pedanticness"......really, is that even a word?

For Goodness sake.

Thank you NJ.

[gingejbee]

^^^lighten up, fgs.

[jno]

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/pedanticism

[bednobs]

most moder cars automatically decide what lights to have on

[ladybirder]

I disagree sinderella. Driving with only side lights on is fine in the right conditions and does not make you a bad a driver.

[ericsavory]

The reason for using HEADLIGHTS is being seen. With sidelights you see the vehicle well before you see sidelights. The modern day running lights only give light at the front, therefore I tend to go straight to HEADLIGHTS rather than D R Ls & sidelights

[gingejbee]

^^Not so now....more and more newer cars have DRLs at the front AND rear lights on at the same time....my 1-Year-old car has these.

[New Judge]

Let’s get this bottomed out.

Highway Code Rule 113:

You MUST
• ensure all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise
• use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) unless otherwise specified
• use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226).

Rule 114:

You MUST NOT
• use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders
• use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling other road users (see Rule 226).

Rule 115:

You should also

• use dipped headlights, or dim-dip if fitted, at night in built-up areas and in dull daytime weather, to ensure that you can be seen
• keep your headlights dipped when overtaking until you are level with the other vehicle and then change to main beam if necessary, unless this would dazzle oncoming road users
• slow down, and if necessary stop, if you are dazzled by oncoming headlights

Rule 226:
You MUST use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres (328 feet). You may also use front or rear fog lights but you MUST switch them off when visibility improves.

So, in summary, headlights are a must at night where there are no streetlights. You should use them in built up areas at night and anywhere during the day when it is dull. You must use them anywhere when visibility is seriously reduced. Headlights should always be dipped unless they will not dazzle other road users. Also (my own particular bugbear) foglights must not be used unless visibility is reduced.