If you’re driving with your parking lights on, does that make sense? I always thought it dumb.
Parking lights first appeared on cars in the late 30’s. Their original purpose was when parked or broken down on the side of the road to warn other traffic. People soon realized that they also offer slightly better visibility at dusk or dawn, as well as foggy and rainy conditions.
No. At dusk there's enough light so your headlights make no improvement at a distance. But at the same distance another car has blurred into the grey background, but it's running lights would make it noticable.