What are parking lights in a car for: basic requirements
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What are parking lights in a car for: basic requirements

Not a single car moving on the road can be called safe if it was difficult to see. Moreover, regardless of how well and efficiently his systems work. Lighting devices are used to indicate traffic on the roads.

What are parking lights in a car for: basic requirements

Consider side lights: why are they needed if every car has a main light? Are there any restrictions on using custom backlighting?

What are parking lights?

This is part of the vehicle's lighting. According to the traffic rules, each car must be equipped with a small backlight in the front, rear and on each side. A small light bulb is installed in the optics, as well as on the sides (more often in the area of ​​the front fenders, and in the case of trucks - along the entire body).

What are parking lights in a car for: basic requirements

The laws of all countries oblige all owners to turn on this lighting when it gets dark. As soon as the driver turns on the light switch (daytime running lights or the main dipped), the dimensions of the car, located along the perimeter of the body, automatically start to glow.

Why do you need parking lighting

The included dimension draws the attention of other motorists to the fact that a car has stopped at the curb or in the parking lot. Another important function of such lighting is to indicate the side dimensions of a truck so that nearby vehicles can clearly see the size of the container or trailer.

What are parking lights in a car for: basic requirements

Parking lights are used only with the onset of darkness or during the day, when the outlines of the car are poorly visible (fog), since the lamp included in the lantern device has low power. Even if the motorist turns on the backlight during the day, other participants will not see it. By the way, this is a common reason why the battery runs out.

Устройство

Illumination of the front and rear dimensions is included in the design of the optics. So, the front light will be equipped with a lamp that will have white light, and the rear light will have a red one.

What are parking lights in a car for: basic requirements

The side lights are always yellow. Most cars have a white light bulb in the socket, but the color of the backlight housing determines its glow. However, there are car models in which each headlight is white, but the bulbs glow in accordance with the type of signal provided by the manufacturer:

  • Turn and side lighting - yellow glow;
  • Rear optics - red glow with the exception of turn signals in some models, as well as a reversing lamp;
  • Front optics - white except for the turn signals.
What are parking lights in a car for: basic requirements

Types of side lights

When the driver moves on the highway, by the light signal seen from another car, he can easily determine its position. In this case, manufacturers have equipped vehicles with lighting that meets world standards.

Here are the types of side lights that will help you determine what position on the road a stopped car takes with the headlights off.

Front parking lights

What are parking lights in a car for: basic requirements

Weak white light bulbs installed in headlights have different names. For some it is a backlight, for others it is a parking light. Whatever they are called, they always have to comply with the standard. The front dimensions are always white so that other road users can understand that the car is in the direction of traffic. If in the dark or when the road is poorly visible due to bad weather, the car is parked on the side of the road, the driver must turn on this backlight.

Rear parking lights

What are parking lights in a car for: basic requirements

This illumination is located in the design of the taillights. Their glow should always be red. Thanks to this, other drivers will understand that the car is stationary in the direction of travel. In this case, the front dimensions will be visible in the rear-view mirror. When the red lights are on at a stationary car, you need to go around it with a slightly greater lateral distance. The reason for this is that the driver of that car may not see the moving vehicle (he is in the blind spot or simply through inattention) and open the door.

Side marker lights

What are parking lights in a car for: basic requirements

These lights determine the size of the vehicle and also help to identify it when neither the front nor the rear light is visible (for example, at an intersection). Most often, these bulbs glow with a yellow light. However, there are also car models in which this element is blue. Another purpose of the side dimensions is to help the vehicles going behind to determine whether it is possible to overtake or not. In this case, only the rear light will be visible, and the front light will be much worse.

Parking lights and daytime running lights: what's the difference?

If the dimensions must be left active during a stop, then daytime running gears are needed to mark the car while driving, even during the day. Neither the first nor the second category of illumination is an alternative to low beam at night.

If in the evening or during bad weather, a road safety officer stops a vehicle that is running only on dimensions, the driver will be fined. You can move either on DRL, or with the headlights on in the low beam mode. Dimensions are used in case of parking and not to conserve battery power while the vehicle is in motion.

What are parking lights in a car for: basic requirements

The design of all cars is equipped by default with position or parking lights. As for the running lights, in some models they are not used at all, but they can be taken out near the headlights and connected through a separate button or together with the car backlight.

LEDs or halogens

Usually, halogens are used as side lights, but LEDs are increasingly being installed in modern cars. The reason is that these lamps have better functionality. Here are just some of the advantages that this modification of light sources has:

  1. They shine brighter;
  2. Devices require less power to operate;
  3. Such lamps have a much longer working resource (can reach 100 thousand hours of operation);
  4. Lamps are not afraid of vibrations;
  5. Temperature drops do not disable such bulbs;
  6. They are more stable than halogens.

The only drawback of such light sources is their high cost. But this minus is more than covered by the advantages listed above. Regardless of the type of bulbs that are chosen for the side lights, their brightness should not exceed the brightness of the brake lights.

Faults or how to replace the dimension

In total, there are two types of malfunctions due to which the gauge stops glowing:

  • Lamp burned out;
  • Lost contact.

True, there is one more reason - the battery is dead, but in this case the car will not start at all without improvised means.

What are parking lights in a car for: basic requirements

Replacing the light bulb or checking the contacts will depend on the car model. In some cases, the driver just needs to open the trunk or the hood - and he got access to the headlight module. On many modern cars, the procedure is so complicated that even for an elementary replacement of a light bulb, you need to go to a service station, because you have to disassemble almost half of the front end.

How to include

When a new car is purchased, each motorist must not only check the technical condition of the vehicle, but also how all of its options are turned on / off, including the side lights. The reason is that in each model, the auto switches are located in different parts of the control panel or on the steering column switches.

Also, as soon as possible, you should figure out how different bulbs change in order to understand whether it will be possible to replace it yourself in the event of a breakdown on the road. In some cars, the side light bulbs are located in the common headlight module, and even the smallest lamp requires the services of a service station to replace. In other machines, this procedure is much easier.

What are parking lights in a car for: basic requirements

When to include

Position lights should definitely be turned on when road visibility is impaired. Moreover, this is not always the onset of darkness. Fog, heavy rain, blizzard and other adverse road conditions make the vehicle less visible on the road. It is worth remembering that there is a difference between side lights and daytime running lights.

If these two functions are switched on separately in the car, then in conditions of poor visibility, the dimensions of the car should be clearly visible, and the corresponding lights help in this. Daytime running lights or dipped headlights should be on on a continuous basis at dusk. This is especially important for large vehicles. In poor visibility conditions, it is important not only to see the road well for yourself, but also to properly mark your vehicle.

For example, when a passing vehicle decides to overtake a car, that driver must clearly see the full dimensions of the car in order to avoid an accident. Darkness and fog are the most dangerous conditions when driving. In this case, it is not enough to see the road yourself.

Another situation where the operation of side lights is extremely important is stopping vehicles on the side of the road. To prevent the battery from sinking with the dipped beam, the light can be turned off during a long stop, but in no case should the side lights be turned off. A car that suddenly appears out of the dark can cause an accident. If the car is on the side of the road in the dark, then for greater confidence it is worth turning on the emergency gang.

Traffic rules

The United States was the first to include mandatory use of headlights in traffic regulations. The changes took effect in the 68th year of the last century. At the same time, such a regulation appeared in the legislation of Canada. If the driver ignored these instructions, he was entitled to a fine.

What are parking lights in a car for: basic requirements

Moreover, these instructions concerned any type of mechanical means. Since the introduction of these changes, the number of accidents on the road has been reduced by almost half.

If the car stops on the side of the road in the dark, be sure to leave the dimensions included. The rules do not prohibit the use of additional lights, such as running lights. The main thing is that the car is clearly seen by other road users.

Side light color

What are parking lights in a car for: basic requirements

As for the front dimensions, they should always be white. The hind ones are fundamentally red. As for the side ones, the driver can use yellow, orange or blue light bulbs. Such harsh restrictions are not a whim of law enforcement agencies. It's just that the inconsistency in the lighting of the car confuses other road users. Especially if the driver "tunes" the front optics and installs red bulbs in it.

Fines

Although the details of the use of parking lights are not strictly regulated in many rules (there is no separate penalty for each violation), the driver may receive a warning or a receipt for payment for violation of the rules in such situations:

  • The car is parked on the side of the road in the dark, passengers are sitting in it, but the dimensions do not glow;
  • The headlights are so dirty that it is difficult to see their glow;
  • Driving in poor visibility exclusively on dimensions.

Someone may regard strict rules in the use of auto illumination as an infringement of self-expression. In fact, this is done solely for the sake of traffic safety.

Additional light signs of the car

Additional light designations of the body are required by the truck, since they are dimensional, and in the dark it is necessary to accurately indicate all the extreme parts of the car. By default, such vehicles should have the same lighting devices as cars. Additionally, illumination of the side parts of the entire vehicle is installed.

When installing such a backlight, it is important that the bulbs do not differ in either brightness or color. The side lights of trucks should only be yellow or orange. Blue bulbs can be installed, but only as side dimensions.

What are parking lights in a car for: basic requirements

An important condition when using additional illumination of dimensions is a symmetrical installation. In the case of using such lighting fixtures, you should purchase lamps made by the same manufacturer. Only if these two factors are observed, you can be sure that the oversized transport will be correctly marked in the dark. According to the documents, some cars belong to the category of passenger transport, their dimensions are quite large. In such cases, the owners of such vehicles install additional lights on the roof of the car. In addition to looking beautiful, oncoming traffic drivers can recognize the size of the car. The main thing is that such lighting does not blind other road users.

Advantages and disadvantages of lamp sizes

So, the side dimensions can be not only yellow, but also blue. Since vehicles equipped with such illumination are slightly different from standard cars, lamp dimensions are becoming increasingly popular.

What are parking lights in a car for: basic requirements

In addition to originality, such bulbs glow brighter and consume much less energy than spiral counterparts. In addition, they are not afraid of temperature extremes and have a long working life.

It is not forbidden to install them, but they have a couple of disadvantages - sometimes their polarity does not correspond to the polarity of the car's on-board system. Their cost is higher than that of standard lamps, although their resource compensates for this disadvantage. In some cases, it is not possible to install these elements due to the inconsistency of the base.

Some more details regarding side lights are in the following video:

LIGHTING DEVICES. Part 1. DAYLIGHT AND DIMENSIONAL LIGHTS.

Questions and answers:

Where are the side lights. It is part of the optics of the vehicle. As a standard, position lamps are installed in the front and rear headlights of the car as close to the side as possible. In freight transport, in parallel with these lighting elements, additional bulbs are still installed, which run along the entire body on the sides.

When to turn on the side lights. Parking lights are also called parking lights. They always turn on when the vehicle is in use at dusk. In order for the driver not to waste time checking whether he turned on the dimensions or not, the automakers synchronized the inclusion of these elements along with the dashboard illumination. It is much darker in the car than on the street, so that the driver can see the sensor readings better, he turns on the backlight, which is also associated with the side lights.

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