Forgetting Parking Lights On

The day before yesterday, which coincided with the last day of 2009, I forgot my parking lights on after parking the car and went upstairs to my house without noticing they were on.

The reason why I forgot them on was that I was driving during the day and normally when I drive during the day I do not turn the parking lights (nor headlights for sure) on. So that is why as I parked the car I left it without noticing that the lights were on, since it was still daylight and I know I do not switch the lights on when during the day.

It was not until I looked at the car from the window as the night approached that I observed my front lights were not dim but were shining. At first I believed it was the reflection of the street lights next to the car that made them shine. Yet observing that all the cars parked next to mine had their front lights so dim I realized that indeed my parking lights were on. I thought of getting down and switching them off but was a bit lazy to do so. I was planning to go out in an hour or so anyway so I postponed switching them off right then. As the night approached more, it was so clear my parking lights were on for they shone brightly in the darkening street.

Although I was about to change my mind about going out yet the state of my parking lights being left on encouraged me to go out. I waited till the time came and went down stairs to shut the parking lights off. I then went to the place I was going to, it was close by my house so I went walking.

Lesson: Remember to make sure that your parking lights (and headlights) are turned off as you take your keys out and get out of the car. This can be easily checked from the dashboard which is lit up when the parking lights (or headlights) are still on.

Keys Locked Inside Car

Driving License

Today was my second time to have my key locked inside the car except that this time the car was not parked in front of my home like the first time, instead, it was parked some 30 km away from home in front of the Nasr City Traffic Office located in New Cairo! I went there today in an attempt to get my driving license.

Spare Key

To make a long story short, I finally reached a friend who was available and ready to help. He went to my home, got the spare key and brought it to me in New Cairo. By then it was too late for me to apply for the driving licence which we were informed is applied for from 9 - 11 AM. We drove back home (me and my cousin who accompanied me during this 'trip') a bit unhappy because I did not get the driving licence nor even take the test or apply for the licence yet I was satisfied that my friend had indeed brought me the key. I'll take that as a big learning lesson.

Rear Light Hit

I've also noticed today a small broken piece of glass at my right rear lights. I don't know when that happened and if it had taken place days before without me observing it. Yet I guess the car was hit while parked because that was the light facing the street while the car was parked during the last few days. Yet the rear lights are elevated and are not low enough for a car to come crashing from behind not to mention that I had been parking it too close to the pavement particularly compared to the car parked behind it which makes it unlikely for another car in the street to bump into it. Probably it was someone carrying something heavy accidentally hitting the right side rear light as we had some neighbors moving from their apartment yesterday and taking their furniture with them. I felt sad to see the small crushed glass at the rear light, yet I quickly recovered since I had already went through car scratches twice before.

Lesson: Never lock the car and forget your keys inside. Always take the keys out and put them in your pocked as soon as you turn the car off. Keep a second spare key in your pocket at all times.

Persistent Flashers

Signaling Left

Yesterday I had a funny thing happen to me. After arriving at my destination with my i10, I parked and attempted to get out of it. I then discovered that the the left turn signal was still flashing on. I realized that I had signaled left but have not actually turned left so I move the turn signals handle down. Surprisingly, the flashers kept flashing! I then tried to turn the turn signal to the right and then back again but they persisted on flashing. I was in kind of a hurry, so I decided to turn the car off and deal with the issue after I came back. But guess what, even after turning the car completely off and even taking the key out, the flashing lights still kept going on and on.

Solution?

I went out of the car and looked at the left side of the car, the flashing lights were flashing from the front and from the back. For a moment I thought of just leaving the car and trying to deal with the situation when I came back. The thought of something being wrong with my new car's lighting system was strongly haunting my mind by then. Suddenly, a half-crazy thought occurred to me. Why not just start the car again, move forward and turn left then go round and come back to my parking place once again. The reasoning behind my rather weired thought was that this could help the 'stuck' turn signals return to their normal condition. I decided to do exactly this. I started the car and turned left. But guess what? The flashing lights just kept flashing on!

Hazard Flashers

It was not until I moved a bit forward after turning left that I realized it was the hazard flashers that were actually flickering. I had turned them on as I started to park and forgot all about them after I did the 'successful' park. Well, thank God I realized at the end what was going on. I was relieved to finally realize there was nothing wrong with the car. It was me again who was ignorant. Well, not bad for a beginner. At least now I know where to press when the 'turn signals' (emergency flashers) are on!