Hey everyone. I have a 64 plate fiesta and the side lights just seem dull to me, not what I’m used to on other cars. I’ve attached pics (they’re a bit naff) it appears when my lights are ‘off’ I have the brighter light (first pic), side lights are the dimmer bulb?

Anyone know if this is an issue? It seems pretty insufficient when its low light out

Vehicle lighting regulations for the UK and Europe were changed many years ago now, possibly 2012/2013

Sidelights as we used to refer to them in the UK have been renamed "Parking Lights" and as the new name suggests, they can only be used when the vehicle is parked. Once it becomes either dark enough (or poor weather, including rain) it is now law that dipped headlights are used when driving. It is no longer legal to drive when lights are required using sidelights.

Newer vehicles are now also fitted with Day Running Lights (DRL) which turn on as soon as the engine starts, regardless of daylight levels. In addition vehicles staring from 2013 onwards are fitted with automatic headlights and will turn on when it gets dark, and also whenever the windscreen wipers are in use.

13 minutes ago, unofix said:

Vehicle lighting regulations for the UK and Europe were changed many years ago now, possibly 2012/2013

Sidelights as we used to refer to them in the UK have been renamed "Parking Lights" and as the new name suggests, they can only be used when the vehicle is parked. Once it becomes either dark enough (or poor weather, including rain) it is now law that dipped headlights are used when driving. It is no longer legal to drive when lights are required using sidelights.

Newer vehicles are now also fitted with Day Running Lights (DRL) which turn on as soon as the engine starts, regardless of daylight levels. In addition vehicles staring from 2013 onwards are fitted with automatic headlights and will turn on when it gets dark, and also whenever the windscreen wipers are in use.

Cheers, that’s a really informative response! I did wonder why the drl’s were so much brighter than what I thought would be side lights

DRL's are used in daylight/bright sunlight and have to be clearly visable. At night when the dipped beam headlights are in use the DRL's are automatically dimmed (on some vehicles they are even turned off).

If your car has the light switch with the 'automatic' position then it should always just be left set to Auto. Your car might not have been built with auto lights, so just remember do not drive using just sidelights (parking lights) or you could be stopped by Mr.Plod 😉