Can the width indicator lights be left on all the time?
3 Answers
Width indicator lights can be left on continuously. Also commonly known as parking lights, width indicator lights primarily serve to alert others to the vehicle's width and are one of the standard lights on automobiles. Typically installed along the edges of the headlight assembly, these lights help indicate the vehicle's height and width dimensions. They are mainly used during dusk driving conditions to enhance visibility and prevent collision accidents with other vehicles. Other important automotive lights include: 1. Front position lamps located at the top of the front light cluster; 2. Low beam headlights positioned below the front position lamps; 3. High beam headlights situated beneath the low beam headlights.
From my over ten years of driving experience, I don't recommend keeping the parking lights on all the time. Although they consume much less power than headlights, if you forget to turn them off after shutting down the engine, leaving them on all night can gradually drain the battery. Once I forgot to turn them off when going to the supermarket, and after two hours, I almost couldn't start the car. Moreover, although parking light bulbs are durable, prolonged continuous operation can cause them to burn out prematurely. During daytime driving, keeping the parking lights on is basically useless; they are most effective in semi-dark environments like tunnels or dusk—helping other drivers see the width of your car. So I always manually turn them on and off, and before getting out of the car, I always glance at the dashboard to confirm the lights are off.
I'm quite concerned about vehicle wear and tear. Keeping the parking lights on continuously has two main impacts. First, there's the risk of battery drain – even just half an hour with the engine off can consume about 5% of the battery's charge, and leaving them on overnight might completely drain the battery. Second, it significantly reduces bulb lifespan – ordinary halogen bulbs can become brittle after just a few hundred hours of continuous use. However, newer models with automatic modes handle this much better, activating the parking lights only when ambient light sensors detect darkness. My car, for example, has a light sensor that automatically turns the lights on and off when entering or exiting underground parking, eliminating any worry. For vehicles without this feature, developing the habit of turning on the lights when starting the car is a more practical solution.
