diff --git a/bngsdk.go b/bngsdk.go
index c637441..6668edc 100644
--- a/bngsdk.go
+++ b/bngsdk.go
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	// UDPIP is the IP of the UDP outgauge server
-	UDPIP = "127.0.0.1"
-	// UDPPort is the port of the UDP outgauge server
-	UDPPort = 4444
+	// DefaultUDPIP is the IP of the UDP outgauge server
+	DefaultUDPIP = "127.0.0.1"
+	// DefaultUDPPort is the port of the UDP outgauge server
+	DefaultUDPPort = 4444
 )
 
 type BeamNGSDK struct {
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) ReadData() error {
 	}
 
 	// Read the binary data into the struct
+	// NOTE: create a reader for this struct and then reset it with the data from here
+	// instead of creating this one everytime
 	reader := bytes.NewReader(sdk.Buffer[:n])
 	if err := binary.Read(reader, binary.LittleEndian, sdk.Data); err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("Error decoding UDP packet:", err)
@@ -63,6 +65,8 @@ func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) ReadData() error {
 	}
 
 	// Update the local map
+	// NOTE: maybe stop doing this here and make the user request this when he
+	// explicitly wants it
 	sdk.DataDict = sdk.Data.ToMap()
 
 	// this means there's new data
@@ -74,6 +78,7 @@ func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) Close() error {
 }
 
 // Init initializes a BeamNG SDK struct
+// NOTE: Change this to output a *BeamNGSDK
 func Init(ip string, port int) (BeamNGSDK, error) {
 	var err error
 	sdk := BeamNGSDK{}
@@ -91,3 +96,169 @@ func Init(ip string, port int) (BeamNGSDK, error) {
 
 	return sdk, nil
 }
+
+// SDK utilities
+
+// ShowLights - functions to check if a given dash light is on [START]
+
+// ShiftLight returns:
+// true if the shift light is on
+// false if the shift light is off
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) ShiftLight() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.ShowLights&DL_SHIFT != 0
+}
+
+// HighBeam returns:
+// true if the high beams are on
+// false if the high beams are off
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) HighBeam() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.ShowLights&DL_FULLBEAM != 0
+}
+
+// Handbrake returns:
+// true if the handbrake is pulled
+// false if the handbrake is down
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) Handbrake() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.ShowLights&DL_HANDBRAKE != 0
+}
+
+// Pitspeed returns:
+// true if the pit speed limiter is on
+// false if the pit speed limiter is off
+// NOTE: this may not be used in BeamNG.drive, haven't checked yet
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) Pitspeed() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.ShowLights&DL_HANDBRAKE != 0
+}
+
+// TractionControl returns:
+// true if traction control is on
+// false if traction control is off
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) TractionControl() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.ShowLights&DL_TC != 0
+}
+
+// LeftIndicator returns:
+// true if the left indicator is on
+// false if the left indicator is off
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) LeftIndicator() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.ShowLights&DL_SIGNAL_L != 0
+}
+
+// RightIndicator returns:
+// true if the right indicator is on
+// false if the right indicator is off
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) RightIndicator() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.ShowLights&DL_SIGNAL_R != 0
+}
+
+// AnyIndicator returns:
+// true if the any indicator is on
+// false if the all indicators are off
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) AnyIndicator() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.ShowLights&DL_SIGNAL_ANY != 0
+}
+
+// OilLight returns
+// true if the oil light is on
+// false if the oil light is off
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) OilLight() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.ShowLights&DL_OILWARN != 0
+}
+
+// BatteryLight returns
+// true if the battery light is on
+// false if the battery light is off
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) BatteryLight() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.ShowLights&DL_BATTERY != 0
+}
+
+// ABS returns
+// true if the ABS is engaged
+// false if the ABS isn't engaged
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) ABS() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.ShowLights&DL_ABS != 0
+}
+
+// ShowLights - functions to check if a given dash light is on [END]
+
+// DashLights - functions to check if a given dash light is provided [START]
+
+// HasShiftLight returns:
+// true if its available
+// false if its unavailable
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) HasShiftLight() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.DashLights&DL_SHIFT != 0
+}
+
+// HasHighBeamLight returns:
+// true if its available
+// false if its unavailable
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) HasHighBeamLight() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.DashLights&DL_FULLBEAM != 0
+}
+
+// HasHandbrakeLight returns:
+// true if its available
+// false if its unavailable
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) HasHandbrakeLight() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.DashLights&DL_HANDBRAKE != 0
+}
+
+// HasPitspeed returns:
+// true if its available
+// false if its unavailable
+// NOTE: this may not be used in BeamNG.drive, haven't checked yet
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) HasPitspeed() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.DashLights&DL_HANDBRAKE != 0
+}
+
+// HasTractionControlLight returns:
+// true if its available
+// false if its unavailable
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) HasTractionControlLight() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.DashLights&DL_TC != 0
+}
+
+// HasLeftIndicatorLight returns:
+// true if its available
+// false if its unavailable
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) HasLeftIndicatorLight() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.DashLights&DL_SIGNAL_L != 0
+}
+
+// HasRightIndicatorLight returns:
+// true if its available
+// false if its unavailable
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) HasRightIndicatorLight() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.DashLights&DL_SIGNAL_R != 0
+}
+
+// AnyIndicator returns:
+// true if its available
+// false if its unavailable
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) HasAnyIndicatorLight() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.DashLights&DL_SIGNAL_ANY != 0
+}
+
+// HasOilLight returns:
+// true if its available
+// false if its unavailable
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) HasOilLight() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.DashLights&DL_OILWARN != 0
+}
+
+// HasBatteryLight returns:
+// true if its available
+// false if its unavailable
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) HasBatteryLight() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.DashLights&DL_BATTERY != 0
+}
+
+// HasABSLight returns:
+// true if its available
+// false if its unavailable
+func (sdk *BeamNGSDK) HasABSLight() bool {
+	return sdk.Data.DashLights&DL_ABS != 0
+}
+
+// DashLights - functions to check if a given dash light is provided [END]
diff --git a/outgauge.go b/outgauge.go
index 2bd0e9c..0a882ae 100644
--- a/outgauge.go
+++ b/outgauge.go
@@ -13,18 +13,18 @@ const (
 
 // DL_x Flags
 const (
-	DL_SHIFT      = 2 ^ 0  // shift light
-	DL_FULLBEAM   = 2 ^ 1  // full beam
-	DL_HANDBRAKE  = 2 ^ 2  // handbrake
-	DL_PITSPEED   = 2 ^ 3  // pit speed limiter // N/A
-	DL_TC         = 2 ^ 4  // tc active or switched off
-	DL_SIGNAL_L   = 2 ^ 5  // left turn signal
-	DL_SIGNAL_R   = 2 ^ 6  // right turn signal
-	DL_SIGNAL_ANY = 2 ^ 7  // shared turn signal // N/A
-	DL_OILWARN    = 2 ^ 8  // oil pressure warning
-	DL_BATTERY    = 2 ^ 9  // battery warning
-	DL_ABS        = 2 ^ 10 // abs active or switched off
-	DL_SPARE      = 2 ^ 11 // N/A
+	DL_SHIFT      = 1 << 0  // shift light
+	DL_FULLBEAM   = 1 << 1  // full beam
+	DL_HANDBRAKE  = 1 << 2  // handbrake
+	DL_PITSPEED   = 1 << 3  // pit speed limiter // N/A
+	DL_TC         = 1 << 4  // tc active or switched off
+	DL_SIGNAL_L   = 1 << 5  // left turn signal
+	DL_SIGNAL_R   = 1 << 6  // right turn signal
+	DL_SIGNAL_ANY = 1 << 7  // shared turn signal // N/A
+	DL_OILWARN    = 1 << 8  // oil pressure warning
+	DL_BATTERY    = 1 << 9  // battery warning
+	DL_ABS        = 1 << 10 // abs active or switched off
+	DL_SPARE      = 1 << 11 // N/A
 )
 
 // Outgauge describes the data served by the BeamNG outgauge server