I've experience of this. My first MR2 was written off. I was stationary, on an unposted limit road (NSL) with sidelights on, and someone drove in tot he front of me. Ended up as a 50/50 due to the fact i just had sidelights on (it was midday). Trust me, I investigated this thoroughly.We're agreed that the sidelights are the lights situated in the bumper?
we're agreed that the dipped/main lights are the pop up flappy air dams in the bonnet? I will mention that the MK1b's do pop the headlights when sidelights are selected (1 click of the switch).Right, it doesn't matter what car it is, if it's an MR2, a Jaguar, a Noble or whatever.
The law, as stated in Butterworths Police Law, is that a car showing front facing lights in use, must be at least dipped headlights on a road of 30mph or more. That means 2 clicks of every car I've ever driven's headlight switch. On an MR2, that means the lights pop up.It is a legal requirement that cars have sidelights as well as dipped/main beam headlights.
No getting away from that and their physical being there and correct working (as in lighting up) is enough to pass the MOT, as is correct alignment. It is then the responsibility of the driver to use them in the correct function/way on the public highway. In the case of a road with 60mph or more, that's dipped headlights. it's just unfortunate that the van driver may mention that you had your sidelights on. he probably won't make the connections, but there's a good chance someone in the insurance office may. They're like that.....If you want to PM me, I'll explain some more, no problem, but my copy of Butterworths is at work along with all the Traffic Cops.
kelvin
