That is exactly correct, at least it was when I lived in Paris quite a few
years ago.  Most of the city streets are well lighted, and there's enough
traffic that the headlights wouldn't do much anyway.  Eliminating the glare
makes city driving much easier.  Of course headlights are allowed on darker
side streets.

John Philcox
'85 GL
Newport, RI

----- Original Message -----
From: "Sean B." <SBirkner@WESTFIELD.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2001 5:05 PM
Subject: Re: headlight advice/f AKA City Lights

> Let me preface this by saying that the following is conjecture based on
> heresay.
>
> I believe these lights are used by law instead of headlights within the
> city limits in a great many european cities. I think the reason for this
is
> so drivers aren't blinded by the lights of oncoming vehicles (it also puts
> to rest the question of "Did that guy have his high beams on?"). The
lights
> are there more to show other drivers where you are than to light the way
in
> front of you (evidently they think the streets are lighted well enough
that
> you don't need headlights in the city).
>
> Sean B.
> '90 V'gon, "Happy Bus", soon to be pseudo Wolfy
> Torrance, CA
> http://vgonman.vwtrek.com