Why Do All Cars Display The "Wrong" Headlight Icon on The Dashboard?

Mr Bob Dobalina on 25/01/2023 - 22:45
Last edited 25/01/2023 - 23:04

Has anyone noticed that when you turn on your headlights, the actual icon that appears on the dashboard, is the parking light icon, and not the headlight icon?

If you're thinking - "huh?" - let me explain. This is the icon that you select on your headlight stalk (or switch) when you turn on your headlights (https://www.flaticon.com/free-icon/headlight_1633160), yet the green icon that then appears on the instrument cluster is not this icon, but rather this one: https://www.flaticon.com/free-icon/parking-lights_95128 which is the icon for the parking lights, not the headlights.

This is confusing as heck. Why do all cars have this "mistake"?

Automotive

Comments

  • AustriaBargain on 25/01/2023 - 22:54
    +5

    huh?

    • Mr Bob Dobalina on 25/01/2023 - 22:58
      +1

      Short version of the question: when you turn on your headlights, why does the "parking light" icon appear in the cluster instead of the "headlight" icon?

      • AustriaBargain on 25/01/2023 - 23:07

        The indicator comes on so you know your parking lights are on. The law says you need your parking lights on in some circumstances.

        • TEER3X on 27/01/2023 - 09:06

          You must have them on when parking. That would make the most sense.

      • SteveBuscemi on 25/01/2023 - 23:08
        +1

        Because that's not the parking lights icon, it's the generic lights on indicator.

        Some cars do have a low beam light as well but its not common.

        https://i.imgur.com/fBaMOD2.png
        https://i.imgur.com/yao0yfS.png

        • Mr Bob Dobalina on 25/01/2023 - 23:10

          I guess the question then becomes, why is the generic "light on" indicator the same icon as the parking lights? This means that, at a glance, the driver has no way of knowing whether or not they have their low beams on (stalks are not illuminated at night either).

          • Miss B on 25/01/2023 - 23:27
            +2

            @Mr Bob Dobalina: I let my car handle the headlights, I just take care of the high beams.

            If it's dark enough, I can tell my low beams are not on because there's not enough light emitting from them (hasn't happened since I started letting my car handle it).

          • brendanm on 26/01/2023 - 09:42

            @Mr Bob Dobalina:

            This means that, at a glance, the driver has no way of knowing whether or not they have their low beams on

            What?

            • SF3 on 26/01/2023 - 10:27

              @brendanm: Sound like OP wants to be a outlier UX designer.

              • Chandler on 27/01/2023 - 16:43

                @SF3: Or looking for an argument to take with them to court against a fine for not having their headlights on…

        • DoctorCalculon on 26/01/2023 - 22:46

          https://i.imgur.com/fBaMOD2.png

          Is this page from a KIA car manual? (Just curious!)

  • mapax on 25/01/2023 - 23:07
    +1

    Why do all cars have this "mistake"?

    They don’t. None of my cars have a headlight “icon”. Closest they have is a high beam indicator.

    • iDroid on 26/01/2023 - 10:16
      +1

      Yeah, for high beam something goes blue on the dashboard somewhere.

      I'm going back to playing marbles anyway.

      • mapax on 26/01/2023 - 10:19
        +3

        back to playing marbles

        More useful than this thread…

  • bobbified on 25/01/2023 - 23:07
    +1

    Mine doesn't have a headlight indicator light (for low beam) on the dashboard. There is only the blue one for highbeam.

    • Mr Bob Dobalina on 26/01/2023 - 20:58

      What car is it?

      • bobbified on 26/01/2023 - 21:07

        It's a late model Audi with virtual cockpit. It has the switch next to/underneath the steering wheel where my right knee goes. There's meant to be an orange dashboard warning lamp if it detects any problems, otherwise the headlights are automatic.

  • miwahni on 25/01/2023 - 23:16
    +2

    I'm actually amazed that you've been able to survey "all" cars to discover this universal mistake.

    Except for my car, which has an icon closer to your headlight icon above than your parking lights icon. Have to admit I've no idea what the icon on the stalk may look like.

  • kizzaaa on 26/01/2023 - 00:28
    +4

    Not a mistake. That icon means headlights and/or parker lights are on.

    Historically, that symbol referred to the parking lights, and it would make sense this symbol would remain on when the headlights are in use because it is an Australian standard for the parkers to be on with any use of the headlights.

    Australian Light Vehicle Standards Rules 2015 Part 7 Lights and reflectors
    Section 80, (7) A parking light fitted to a motor vehicle built after 1969 must be wired so the parking light is on when a headlight on the vehicle is on.

    Source: https://pcc.gov.au/uniform/Australian%20Light%20Vehicle%20St…

    • fantombloo on 26/01/2023 - 00:54
      +1

      Well, I never expected to be reading about car light standards after getting home after a night out on the town, but it's actually one of the more interesting things I've read today. Thanks!

    • pegaxs on 26/01/2023 - 09:05
      +2

      Yep, was going to say exactly this… maybe the symbol is on because the parker’s are on and it has nothing to do with the main lights. Soooo… light functioning as intended?

  • payless69 on 26/01/2023 - 03:35

    My electric Volkswagen sagt: Engine an!!

  • jv on 26/01/2023 - 07:42
    +1

    It’s because we are in the southern hemisphere.

  • CurlCurl on 26/01/2023 - 08:30
    +2

    @mondorock. the driver has no way of knowing whether or not they have their low beams on

    Here's a tip. If it's dark and you can't see the road the headlights are OFF.

    • md333 on 26/01/2023 - 15:12
      +1

      If you can see the road, doesn't mean they are on though, if the street lighting is bright. Doesn't seem unreasonable to me to want an indicator on the dashboard to confirm the lights are on. I find it a bit frustrating. It is shown on the light stalk but thats often hard to see behind the wheel, and not illuminated.

      • Mr Bob Dobalina on 26/01/2023 - 20:59

        You're right - on an inner city street with bright street lighting, having your headlights on or off makes little difference.

  • JimmyF on 26/01/2023 - 08:43

    Why Do All Cars Display The "Wrong" Headlight Icon on The Dashboard?
    This is confusing as heck. Why do all cars have this "mistake"?

    The first stop on the headlight switch is the parking lights….. hence what you see.

    Goes

    OFF -> Parking Lights -> Headlights on.

    You then use the in/out to adjust Low or High Beam.

  • coffeeinmyveins on 26/01/2023 - 08:45
    +4

    This is confusing as heck. Why do all cars have this "mistake"?

    If this is confusing to you to the point that you've made a forum post about it I worry about your driving ability.

  • pegaxs on 26/01/2023 - 09:10
    +5

    Because they don’t. This light indicates parkers as you are suggesting, so when you turn your lights on, your parkers come on, and this is what the dash light is telling you.

    Marked as “Working as intended.”

    And all cars, huh. Thanks for putting together such an exhaustive list and testing all cars. How long did it takes you to test “all cars”?

    Oh, and your "head light" icon is actually the high beam icon. If you are driving around with this one permanently on, you need to be driving a Ranger, Navara, Hilux or Patrol.

  • JIMB0 on 26/01/2023 - 09:12

    How can you you say it is all cars? My car hasn't got any light to tell you the headlights are on.

  • SF3 on 26/01/2023 - 09:50
    +2

    This is confusing as heck

    Most probably only OP.

  • doctordv8 on 26/01/2023 - 10:05

    "This is confusing as heck. Why do all cars have this "mistake"?"

    Well, no… you maybe confused…I/we are not.

    Your car may have Instrument Cluster mounted Indicator Lights for HL and or Pl, many do not.

    The world does yet have compulsory standardized (on all cars) Instrument Cluster Indicator Lights re the vehicle Headlights/Park lights - On/Off or otherwise.

    Mind, when I think of Vehicle Light Symbols…off the track but while sorta related…… if everyone had Headlights and Parking Lights on with Ignition, (and by driver choice when required when parked) there may be fewer vehicle crashes…yes?
    Or….given the number of numb bats driving with Hi-Beam on incorrectly, should the Hi-Beam Instrument Cluster mounted Indicator Light be a lighter - brighter colour and not a (can be) difficult to see Blue?

    • MS Paint on 26/01/2023 - 10:38

      if everyone had Headlights and Parking Lights on with Ignition, (and by driver choice when required when parked) there may be fewer vehicle crashes…yes?

      DRL's will eventually take care of this

      • doctordv8 on 27/01/2023 - 09:05
        -4

        DRLs should be removed from all vehicles….first bump in the road or scrape on gutters etc and the lights are in the eyes of all oncoming drivers. Stupid design setup, and stupid legislators that allow below the bumber or mid/waist line height of lights of any kind.
        Mind, most drivers are too uneducated in this subject to check or see the hot spot on the garage door or wall or vehicle in front to know they are blinding other drivers anyhow.

        Use headlights 24/7, problem solved.

        • MS Paint on 27/01/2023 - 09:06

          Use headlights 24/7

          It would be boring if we all drove Volvo's.

          I've never been blinded by DRLs and I spend a lot of time on the road.

          I get blinded mostly by people not knowing how to correctly load their trailers or caravans.

        • doctordv8 on 28/01/2023 - 08:40

          Who…why…the Neg?

  • Kramo on 26/01/2023 - 10:57

    My Holden Cruze has this type of behaviour which I've always found pretty weird

    When using automatic headlights, it has no impact, since the parking lights pretty much don't turn on. But when you control your lights on manually, the selection options are "off / parking lights on / headlights on" and the symbol that displays on the dash turns on when parking lights get turned on, and doesn't change when the headlights are turned on.

    • MS Paint on 26/01/2023 - 12:23
      +6

      That's the least of the issues for a Cruze.

  • Guybrush57 on 26/01/2023 - 13:06
    +2

    OP's next thread. Why do all bonuts make loud sounds when a car is turned on?

  • md333 on 26/01/2023 - 15:16

    The real question, in my opinion, should be why don't most cars have an indicator on the dash to confirm the headlights are on. It used to be pretty obvious due to the instrument lights, but almost all cars have instruments continuously lit now. Might help a little bit with the number of people that now seem to drive around with only parking lights on. The Corolla I rented recently doesn't even have an 'off' position for the headlight switch, its either on or auto, but there is a parking position in between that still allows you to get it wrong.

    • doctordv8 on 27/01/2023 - 09:07

      Easiest method currently in use by manufacturers, headlights on then clock, odometer and other digital accessories dim.

  • unicorse on 27/01/2023 - 11:09

    Consider yourself lucky that your car tells you the lights are on at all. I have a Volvo that displays the parking lights symbol whether the headlights are on or not.

    I enquired with the service dept why this was, and got told that this is normal behaviour because when the headlights are off, the DRLs are still on.

  • jeefbeef on 27/01/2023 - 18:26

    I'm not sure all cars have this mistake.

    All the cars in my garage have a green "dipped beam" icon along with the parking light one when the headlights are on.

    EDIT: is a specific manufacturer giving you this issue?

    • pegaxs on 28/01/2023 - 08:10

      is a specific manufacturer giving you this issue?

      No!!! it's ALL cars… OP tested every single one of them…

      Why do all cars have this "mistake"?

    • md333 on 28/01/2023 - 13:28

      I've noticed on Mazda, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Polestar, Holden(Daewoo really). Which cars do you have with the green dipped beam icon, sounds like a better way to do it.

  • Mr Bob Dobalina on 12/03/2023 - 19:45

    Guess what, I just bought a new car (Honda) and it's got a headlight icon on the dash! Amazing 😄

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