Not all cars sold in U.S. have parking lights. I was surprised!

[Sun]

On our brand new 2011 Jetta, we just discovered a flaw,imo, no parking lights, only day-time FRONT lights (no lights rear of car). I was thinking that could be dangerous, because many people count on parking lights in the early dusk, and might think the day-time lights also have lights in the rear.

Some people also count on parking lights (with rear lighting) if they pull over to the side of the road, say with car trouble, and choose parking lights, rather than the hazard lights.

We thoroughly read the part on lights, so it won't be a problem for us, as we will only count on the regular headlights at night, but people who don't get a chance to read the vehicle's manual before they drive it might not know, so it seems to me it could be dangerous.

Otherwise, we really like the car, and it has lots of bang for the buck. We are on a tight budget, so got the least expensive Jetta, so the more expensive ones do have the parking light feature.

[Nik Naym]

I think their advertising slogan was “Be home before dark”.

[FourPeas]

You shouldn't be driving with parking lights on, anyway, because they are called that for a reason.

Thank you.

[Free_SJersey]

After reading about findings of experiments in WWII of using forward shining bright lights on airplanes during the daytime to camouflage the planes approach during daylight raids, I've often wondered about the true effectiveness of daytime headlights on bright sunny days. The experiments IIC were quite successful but abandoned because of the energy strain on the planes.

[afraidfortherepublic]

But you’re never supposed to drive with parking lights.

Except in Europe and China. I think it's stupid to drive with just the parking lights on, but they do it other countries. I went to China in 1983 and was scared to death crossing the street alongside the harbor in Shanghai. At that time only the Army and Diplomats had cars and they drove very fast with NO lights on. I felt lucky to get on my ship without losing my life.

[Cold Heart]

And then in the sixties they figured out that people were confused by the small parking light, thinking it was a car with headlights only further away. The parking lights were changed to amber. People drove with the new amber parking lights to show off how they had a new sixties car.

And that’s why people drive with their parking lights on today.

[Hootowl99]

Uhhhh..... Daytime running lights have been like this for 20 some years. Turn your light control one notch and you have “parking lights”. Turn to the second notch and you have the head lights.

Read your owners manual.

Parking lights are illegal when driving down a public roadway and pretty much useless anyway unless you are ummmm... Parking!

[poindexter]

Parking lights are for parking. For emergencies, there are emergency flashers.

[Archer24]

If ever a reply was necessary. Your tag line is perfect!

[qam1]

From
http://www.lightsout.org/faqs.html

Enemies
General Motors
Volvo
Volkswagen
BMW
Audi
Honda
Acura
Mazda
Mercedes Benz
Suzuki
Saab
Subaru
Mitsubishi
Lexus

Friends
Daimler/Chrysler
Ferrari
Ford
Hyundai
Infinity
Jaguar
Kia
Porsche
Toyota

[qam1]

ANYTHING that makes you more visible is a good idea, for safety. Rethink your statement, lest you be considered stupid yourself-!>

Anything that blinds other drivers coming at you is a bad thing.

Anyone who needs a 3,000+ pound object to turn on its headlights in bright sunshine in order to see it really needs to turn their license in immediately.

What next, mandate all cars come only in bright yellow?

[My hearts in London - Everett]

My daughter’s 2007 Jetta does not having parking lights either.

[FreedomPoster]

I figured I’d be the only guy on the thread who thought of that song.

They’re Lefties, but they’re funny as all get out. The Other Shore is a riot, my all-time favorite “gospel” song.

[AFreeBird]

The driving lights on my last two Firebirds worked just the opposite. When you clicked on the high beams, the driving lights went off, and then back on when you went back to the low beams.

[FreedomPoster]

Far from all. It is not a requirement. GM was among the worst on putting DRLs on lots of their cars.

And to comment on the list from that site that qam1 posted, there are three Audis in our fleet, two ‘99s and an ‘07, and none of them have DRLs. If Audi did it, it was for a very short time and not in all models. I’m pretty familiar with their cars. Hmmmm, just thinking about it, they do have those stupid LED front running lights that outline the headlights on a couple newer models (A5/S5, maybe the A4/S4). They’re more of a style thing, and I personally don’t like them a bit. That may be what they’re talking about. But they are a lot less light than a low beam DRL like GM did / does so much of.

[Vaduz]

Not in the other 56 states,what one do you live in?.

[mad_as_he$$]

Wait until you have to buy any parts for your Jetta.

[nuconvert]

the 56th one. lol

[Chode]

thx...

[Oztrich Boy]

That must be the reason. Good. People need illumination but run only parking lights, when they are not parked, think they are saving electricity.

And this is bad 'cos the electricity to run them comes from the battery, not the engine?

[Oztrich Boy]

You shouldn't be driving with parking lights on, anyway, because they are called that for a reason.

It's OK if you call them "running lights"