Terry !

You kinda give the answer yourself, it's  in order to be seen when temporarily parked at night !
If you have a car breakdown or just want to take a break when driving around ar night the idea is that the car should be visible to others without the complete drain of the battery that a lit headlight would result in .
This was more important before the "hazard" lights were invented - which wasn't too long ago, I rember buying and installing aftermarket swiches on late sixties cars - but I still think it feels good to be able to see eighteenwheelers with p-lights when parked for a quick nap along narrow country roads.
Not to mention my wish for people to use hazard lights only when there is an actual accident, there is no reason to stop and offer assistance to someone that  want to piss ;-)

Calle
Mullhyttan, Sweden

----- Ursprungligt meddelande ----- 
Fr�n: "Terry Kay" <CTONLINE@WEBTV.NET>
Till: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Skickat: den 29 mars 2001 19:15
�mne: Re: headlight advice/f

> I'm not sure what the reason is for the additional  parking lites is,
> but I do know that most English Motorcycles have them also.
> They serve absolutely no purpose, as far as I can see.
> Perhaps they were used when a guy does park, for a brief time at nite,
> so another vehicle doesn't run over his motorcycle.
> Why they would be of benefit for a 4 wheeled vehicle, is a mystery to
> me.
> 
> Later,
> 
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> Terry 85 GL