Parking lights, also known as sidelights, are small lights located at the front and sometimes rear of a vehicle. They are not headlights, but they do appear outside of them. In the past, parking lights played a more critical role in car lighting when they were operated on a separate system than the headlights. If the headlights or the system supporting them failed, the parking lights could take over, providing light for driving safely. However, today, parking lights simply assist in illuminating the front or rear of the vehicle and are not designed to be bright enough to replace or substitute for headlights.

According to section 249 of the Highway Code, all vehicles must display parking lights when parked on a road or a lay-by on a road with a speed limit greater than 30 mph. They are also advised for use during dusk or dawn when there is still natural light, but it is not as strong as daylight. The parking lights symbol is usually two small semi-circles facing in opposite directions, and each will likely have three lines coming from them to symbolize light.

Parking lights are designed to consume a very small amount of energy without draining the cars battery. They are also helpful in the event of an emergency, providing additional light to promote improved roadway safety. To avoid any unnecessary fines or put other drivers at risk on the roads, it is important to regularly check all car lights, including parking lights, to ensure they are working properly.