iT IS ACTUALLY PART OF AN mot NOW THAT THE SIDE LIGHTS MUST WORK WITH IGNITION OFF, else it will fail. I also seem to recall in the Highway Code that in certain emergency conditions that the side lights must be on with ignition off.
That is right (i think),but what was being suggested here was,that when you take the key out of the ignition the lights go off.
Now,when you're key is IN the ignition,but at the off posistion,then i think that constitutes 'ignition off',so if the lights stay on in that position,then no MOT failure.
But if you had modified the electrics to then turn off the lights when the key is removed,and make it impossible to have them on without inserting the key again,then that would be unsafe in an accident or breakdown.
I don't know the ins and outs of the law about this one,but the Police say that if you break down on the motorway at night,you must leave you're lights on after leaving the car.