Light sensors

[corgi]

I have always driven with side lights on regardless of the car.
Why would you not@
Volvo's have used it as a safety feature for ever and it makes sense.

It is a pet hate of mine, if conditions are such that side lights are appropriate and you're moving use dipped headlights.

It is much better to use headlights when they are not required than to not use them when they are.

The auto-lights on all cars do not turn the sidelights on they go from nothing/DRLs to dipped headlights... there's a good reason for this and that is that you should not be driving on sidelights only.

[monkeyhanger]

When the new DRL legislation first came through or was about to (2012?), some manufacturers designated the sidelights as DRLs. VW did that when I got my 2nd Scirocco in 2011 in anticipation of the new legislation.

Most manufacturers now have dedicated DRLs.

[Mk7-GTD]

I have always driven with side lights on regardless of the car.
Why would you not@
Volvo's have used it as a safety feature for ever and it makes sense.

By side lights, you mean parking lights. Volvo's of old had a brighter bulb as a running light, which dimmed when used as a parking light, much like many DRL's work today.

In the 80's we had dim-dip for a while, which I think was a good thing. It stopped people from driving with just parking lights on as if the ignition was on, a low voltage would be sent to the dipped beam bulb as well.

If people are going to the effort of reaching for the headlight switch anyway, I don't understand why they can't just turn in one extra notch and put the headlights on properly.

I always run with my light on. The only time the light switch isn't on the second notch is when it is dark and I have it on auto for the high beam assist.

[kalimon]

I did actually mean dipped beams. The term side lights is just showing my age