You must use parking lights when you are parked on a road with a speed limit over 30 mph (48 km/h) at night. On roads with a 30 mph or lower limit, you generally don’t have to use parking lights if you’re in a designated parking bay or lay-by, or if you’re facing the traffic and are at least 10 metres from the nearest junction. Key points:
- Legal requirement: When parked at night on a road with speed limit > 30 mph, switch on parking lights (sidelights) [legal reference: section 249].
- In built-up areas (30 mph or less): parking lights are not required if you’re in a proper parking bay/lay-by or correctly positioned facing the direction of traffic and at least 10 metres from a junction.
- Fog or very poor visibility: you must have sidelights on even on roads where it isn’t otherwise required [visibility safety rule].
- Do not park facing the wrong way on a road, and avoid parking on the opposite side of a one-way street when not in a designated space.
If you want, I can tailor this to your location or driving license country, as parking/lighting rules vary slightly by jurisdiction.
