Driving comes with so much responsibility such as knowing the road signs, traffic laws, the proper time to use your headlight and the parking light, etc. Parking light is underrated. It is a light used when parked at the side of the road, especially in the night.
With the help of the light, other road users will see your car and give it the proper space needed to avoid collision. Therefore, can you drive using only your parking light? When can you drive using only your parking light?
Depending on the laws of your state of residence, there’s no time you can drive using only your parking light because it is against the law to drive using only your parking light.
When Can You Drive Using Only Your Parking Lights?
While it is possible to drive with your parking and headlight on at the same time, there’s no time of the day or night when you can drive using only your parking light.
In some states, it is illegal to drive using only your parking light. It may get you ticketed or fined. You may also be pulled over.
For example, California law prohibits drivers from driving using only their parking light at any given time. While the law approves using the headlight alongside the parking light at the same time, the parking light should not be the only light working.
According to California law, “No vehicle shall be driven at any time with the parking lamps lighted except when the lamps are being used as turn signal lamps or when the headlights are also lighted.”
With this law, you will definitely be pulled over by the law enforcement agency when caught in the act and will be fined.
Moreover, even if it’s not illegal in your state of residence doesn’t give you the right to do so. You can still be pulled over by the police even though your state law did not specifically prohibit doing it or not.
This is because the parking lights are meant to be used at night when the car is parked on the side of the road to alert other drivers of the availability of the car. It is not bright enough to work as the main headlight.
As a matter of fact, not using your parking light when parked on the side of the road at night is against the law and can get you fined especially if it causes a collision. So, there’s no time of the day or night when you can drive using only the parking light. Parking lights can only be used when the car is parked, with the headlight or as a turn signal
If you are from the UK, section 249 of the UK code mandates all road users to turn their parking light on whenever they are parked on the road provided the speed limit of the road is more than 30mph. You can decide not to use the parking light if the speed limit is under 30mph.
However, you must be parked at least 10 meters (32 feet) away from any junction, close to the curb, and facing in the direction of the traffic flow. If it’s foggy, you can leave the parking light on irrespective of the speed limit.
What Happens if You Drive Using Only Your Parking Lights?
Here is what happens if you drive using only your parking lights:
1. You will be Breaking the Law
If you decide to drive with only your parking light, you will be breaking the law especially if it’s at night. Some state laws prohibit road users from doing so therefore, if you decide to do otherwise, it then means you’re violating the law.
2. You will be Pulled Over
If you’re seen driving with only your parking light, you will be pulled over by the police. This is because the parking light is not bright enough to lead you through the night. To avoid causing a crash, the police will pull you over.
It doesn’t matter if it’s against the law in your state of residence or not, driving with only your parking light at night is not safe. The police will have to pull you over to protect the public safety.
3. You will be Fined
Depending on the police officer who pulled you over, you may be ticketed after being pulled over. You’re likely to be fined for driving with only your parking light.
Therefore, if your headlight is out while driving at night, please pull over and call a towing company. Kindly have the car towed to an auto shop where the headlights issue will be resolved. Don’t be tempted to continue driving with just the parking light as it could get you fined.
Can You Drive with a Parking Light and Headlight?
Yes, you can drive with a parking light and headlight as long as the headlights are working well. It’s not illegal to drive with both lights, however, it’s illegal to drive with only a parking light when you should be driving with the headlight.
Are Parking Lights and Headlights the Same?
No, parking lights and headlights are not the same. Even though they have similar functions, they function at different intervals. Parking Lights are used when parked at the side of the road while headlights are used at night to see the road.
However, while the primary use of headlight is to brighten the way, it can also serve as a form of alert to drivers that a car is coming behind. So both, headlight and parking lights are meant for visibility but function at different intervals.
Can Parking Lights be Used as Daytime Running Light?
No, parking lights cannot be used as daytime running lights because they are not daylight-running lights.
Even though parking lights can be found in the same unit as your headlight in some cars, they are not the same as your headlight, hence cannot be used as the daytime running light.
Conclusion
There’s no time when you can drive with only your parking light and should not do so to avoid being pulled over and fined. While it’s not against the law to do so in some states, you will still be pulled over and fined for doing so because parking lights are not bright enough to function as headlights. You could end up causing a crash.
