Fog lights

[Bluemukka]

Just a question in general, but has anyone else noticed the large amount of people driving around with their fog lights on for no reason at all? Often they will have their side lamps on as it is getting dark/raining but also their fogs.

I always thought it was illegal to have them on except when driving in dense fog?

[furrycheeky]

I have noticed too, it used to be "boy racers" but these days people from all walks of life leave them/have them on. Very annoying.

[Toureman]

YES, They are all PRATS!

They have their sidelights on aswell because the fog lights will not work unless the side lights are on.

It is illegal to have any fog lights on unless the visibility is under 100yds, this is very rarely the case in the UK.

The silly prats think it makes them or their cars look better!

Now all Police Patrols have been replaced with cameras (which cannot pick up this annoying stupidity) no one is caught breaking this law!

[Coobeastie]

Can't see a problem with it myself, though as you say it is illegal. I find that I get more dazzled by these new projector /xenon headlights than people using their fogs.

I'll often use mine whilst driving down country lanes at night (obviously turning them off if any other vehicles are around) with my full beams on too, that way I've got a good view ahead and to the sides which can be handy when around here you have deers jumping out at you.

[Coobeastie]

I'm presuming that everybody who moans about these people using their fogs follow the rules of the road to the exact letter.

[furrycheeky]

I can honestly say I do obey the road rules coolbeastie. Foglights often do dazzle as they are undirected. Its a law, so you shouldn't use them whether you think its better to use them or not. Unless it's seriously foggy.

[Coobeastie]

I thought fogs are supposed to illuminate the frontal area of the road ahead only (the bit before the headlights beam hits the road) , mine certainly do.

[DirtyHabit]

The use of fog lights are illigal but there is little or no enforcement. I have also noticed an increase in the use of mobile phones and non wearing of seatbelts and it is down to a lack of enforcement.
For six months I saw a car being used everyday with no front number plate. It was driven by a "boy racer" and had add on plastic body parts and I guess he thought a number plate might spoil it. But he either had a whole pile of tickets or more likely was never stopped by Police.

[Harveypool]

Its called "Inappropriate use of lighting equipment" and, yes, its annoys the crap out of me too

[Playbill]

I agree with Toureman's comments, but Coobeastie is right about xenon headlights dazzling. The latest craze in my area is 4x4s using bullbar mounted foglights on at all times, and these are at headlight level.

My way of dealing with them when they come up behind me is simply to slow down and make them realise that having foglights on and a large drain pipe for an exhaust does not make a Renault Clio/Citroen Saxo any faster or more impressive.

[Jay70]

Before everyone gets on their high horse - are you sure that they are fog lights and not driving lights? Driving lights are normally fitted in a similar position and have a similar light pattern as a head lamp and also use a 50W bulb so should be no more dazzling than a headlamp and can be used as such, simulteneously with headlamps, legally I do agree some people drive with fog lamps on when they shouldn't but I dont actually find them dazzling if fitted with the standard legal bulb rating. You may find some people up-rate the bulb voltage which is causing you the problem.

[tom hopkins]

coobeastie just to let you know xenon?projector lights are legal ! if you want to see what difference foglights make try turning your headlamps on & then your foglights very little difference. foglights by the way are under the bumper, driving lamps above.

it is illegal to drive with foglamps & as far as i know there is a maximum fine of �400 & 3 points.

also gives the police an excuse to pull you up, so i hope if you drive with them on there is nothing else wrong with your car?

[Monkey Man]

You MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced as they dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves.

Most cars do not have FOG lights on the front of their cars. The standard front lights have, side beam, dipped beam and main beam. Dipped beam is the normal nighttime driving mode. The main beam is to be used when visiblity is low in unlight areas like country lanes. You turn on and off as you need them and always when another car apporaches. FOG lights are usually fitted below bumper on cars that have them and should only light up the area of road directly in front of the car.

Cars do have rear FOGs and these should only be used when visibility is below 100 meters. Rear fogs should not be used when its raining as they dazzle the driver behind and obscure the brake lights.