Fog lights.

[Greenbhoy]

Is it illegal to drive with your fog lights on when visibility is greater than 100 metres?

[Loosehead]

I don't think it's illegal but it does mark you out as a bit of a pillock!

[Greenbhoy]

I agree on the pillock slant.

I did read that: "The law, as presented by The Highway Code, states that front and rear fog lights must not be used unless visibility is seriously reduced - which generally means when you cannot see further than 100 metres (328 feet) - and that they must be switched off once the visibility improves." http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/sport_leisure/drivingfog_rac.shtml

And also "Using front foglights when it's not foggy = �30 fixed penalty notice "Improper use of foglights"" but I have still to see any police car pull over any of these "2@'s"......and I have noticed recently that it isn't just "boyracers" that are using them but more and more Mature women are also at it.

I think the media can be partly blamed for the inappropriate use of fog lights as tv adverts, car programmes and newspapers/magazines are showing more and more cars with their gog lights on in clear weather. 

[ck1]

yep ive had a fixed penaly for having fog lights on, pulled over to ask for directions from a parked up police car in harrogate, as I stopped the blues were on and I got a �30 fine, didnt bother with the directions after that

[Greenbhoy]

Yeah, I have done some digging and, according to the Highway Code http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/f.shtml :

You MUST NOT use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users
use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling other road users.
Law RVLR reg 27

and

You MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 201) as they dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves.
Law RVLR regs 25 & 27

[Oneeyedvic]

I know where I live in Norfolk, police will not pull you over purely for this, however the chap who bought my last car (who came from somewhere near Birmingham) said that the Police would always pull them over and give them a fine for that and also if their number plates were illegal. - my car had illegal plates and he was worried about the journey home.

I guess the police will pull you over if you look annoying to them!

[fibifooz]

My sister was finded �30 by a rookie policewoman for driving with her foglights on. It was 6.30 in the morning and foggy, but obviously not foggy enogh.The policewoman said that if she'd had points on her licence then the fine would have been �60.

[brian5]

Yes, it is a bookable offence to use fog lights if visibility is more than 100m, it carries a fixed penalty of, i think, �40. The police do book people for it, it's just that there are so many of these idiot's around that, they can't  get them all, Personally, I would jsut set up at the side of a road and stop every body who has tem on. 

They are High Intensity Fog Penetrating Lamps, designed to penetrate fog, so they blind oncoming drivers, they are not DRIVING lamps. Plus most of these morons, usually end up putting the rear fogs on too, which is even worse, especially for following traffic

[verrecchia]

Yes it is illegal and gets you a �30 fine for being a total plonker, They are called FOG LAMPS, that is a bit of a give away as to their use, They are not "make my car look good lamps", or "does dark count as poor visibility lamps". 

[HonstMistake]

They highway code is NOT the law...it even says that in most highway code books. It can be referred to in a court of Law, but it is not law.
There are some interpretations of the foglight rule....if it's very very dark and wet, very difficult to see...there's no fog, but it is safer to drive with fogs on...so...you should drive less safely?
I think the biggest problem is the blinding factor they cause to oncoming drivers.
:0)

[verrecchia]

I think you will find that most of the highway code, may not be enforcable by law, however MOST of the codes do relate to a law which in turn get you done, the use of foglights is mentioned in te higway code but to use them improperly is an offence under the construction and use act of I believe 1974, which carries a penalty of a fixed penalty, ghowever if you continue to flaunt this regualtion then points given.

If it's not foggy dont use them, simple.

[verrecchia]

I stand to correct myself, if you can clearly see then dont use them, spray on motorways limits visibility and it is ok to use them then, but not when you can clearly see the vehilce in front or behind u.

It should be basic comon sense

[Greenbhoy]

IDIOTIC - if the highway code isn't the law, does it refer to the law see above cutting from highway code website which refers to "Law RVLV regs 25 & 27"?