> On my way home from the office tonight I was in the '3 and it was still an
> hour before dusk, so still quite light. But driving on some tree shaded
> roads I figure I would drive with just the running lights, to
> save on gennie
> power. Ten out of the eleven cars that passed me in the opposite direction
> put their high beams on as if my highs were on.
>
> Clearly this wasn't the case, and I think they were indicating my lights
> should be on. Couple of thoughts came to mind:
>
> - When did it become a bad thing to run with only running lights?
Not sure when, but it was already true when I took driver's ed. If it's
dark enough to need lights, use your headlights. Those things on the front
of your TR3 aren't running lights, they're parking lights.
Varies by state of course, but in California I believe the law is you must
have headlights 45 minutes before sundown. That's well before what I would
call dusk.
> - why are cars still equiped with the ability to run running
> lights only if it is such a bad thing?
I use 'em in the daytime ... IMO it helps other drivers notice my little
car. I believe parking lights were required in parts of Europe, maybe they
still are.
> - was I in the wrong and should have flipped the main beams on?
Just a WAG, but I'd guess the people blinking at you thought you might not
know your headlights didn't work ...
Randall
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