Can the position lights and low beam be turned on simultaneously?

[LaChristian]

Position lights and low beam cannot be turned on simultaneously. When activating the low beam, the design requires first turning on the position lights, followed by the low beam. The first turn of the control lever activates the position lights, and the second turn activates the low beam. The term 'position' refers to warning, and 'light' indicates outline, so position lights are warning lights designed to alert other vehicles. Position lights are installed along the edges of the car's roof, indicating both the vehicle's height and width. Regulations mandate that vehicles taller than three meters must have position lights, and those wider than 2100mm must be equipped with them. Low beam is for close-range illumination, designed to cover a wide area with a short range, approximately 30 to 40 meters.

[OmarAnn]

I often drive at night, so this is a very practical question. The parking lights and low beams can absolutely be turned on simultaneously. In fact, almost all car models are designed with an interlinked mode. When you turn the light knob to the low beam position, the parking lights automatically come on as well, eliminating the need for separate operation. Last time, the mechanic at the dealership told me that this design is to improve the vehicle's visibility while illuminating the road. I specifically tested it—when the low beams are on, both the front and rear parking lights illuminate, and the small lights on the side mirrors also light up. This is especially noticeable when driving on the highway in rainy conditions, as following vehicles can see my outline lights from a distance. However, be aware that the dashboard brightness might change slightly, which is a normal phenomenon.

[FranciscoMarie]

My family runs an auto repair shop, and this question is like asking if I can eat while drinking soup. Modern cars support dual operation—when you turn the knob to the parking light position, the low beam doesn’t illuminate, but when you switch to the low beam position, both lights work together. Structurally, parking lights have very low power, typically around 5W, and are wired in parallel with the 50W halogen low beams, so they don’t interfere with each other. In fact, I recommend turning both on at dusk—the parking lights make the car’s outline clearer, while the low beams supplement road illumination. For older cars, watch out for wiring aging that may cause poor contact, but the bulbs themselves won’t conflict.

[DiLiam]

When I first got my driver's license, I was also puzzled. Later, my driving coach demonstrated it to me on the spot. He turned on the light switch of my Corolla: in the first position, only the parking lights illuminated; when the knob was turned all the way to activate the low beams, the parking lights remained on. The coach explained that this is a dual safety design, and European and American regulations even mandate that contour markings must remain visible when low beams are on. In newer models, the LED light strips are more prominent. If you stand in front of the car and observe, you'll notice that the daytime running lights dim when the low beams are on, but the outer frame parking light strips always emit a steady white light.