fog lights becoming driving lights ? Why have them on 24/7

Post by **charlyW** » 18 Nov 2009, 05:27

Ok I know some countries make it law for cars to have some kind of light on all the time it Volvo and some SAABs, but why oh why do people turn front fog lights into front driving lights ? [Is there a difference?] It seems a trend sweeping the UK and some parts of central Europe people are in some cases using them in place of the headlights !!! It's mainly a certain kind of car and driver who thinks its ok to blind everyone coming towards them[Don't think the USA has met the super mini yet ie Vauxhall Corsa, Nova, Ford Fiesta [you're lucky]. Fog lights are for fog not to use to nip the supermarket and definately not inplace of the headlight [the mere name should be a hint]

Has anyone else had this kind of car experience?

Post by **meine39** » 18 Nov 2009, 07:24

Yes there is a difference and fog lights are only supposed to be used in fog - fog light abuse is RAMPANT here in the States with peope using them all the time. Fog lights do not improve forward vision in normal driving situations, nor are they intended to. They are especially dangerous in rain or snow, when the low wide corner beam spread is magnified by wet/white pavement. (Can you guess this is a major pet peeve of mine?

)

Ok let the debate begin...

will bj robinson · Post by **will bj robinson** » 18 Nov 2009, 13:40

nope the super mini as you refer to it is not avaliable in the north american market yet(soon though supposedly) and the use of fog lights is an issue that really bugs me. these lights are brighter in some cases than the high beams sometimes I wish that there was a really bright spot light that was avaliable to get back at them.

Post by **matthew1** » 18 Nov 2009, 16:19

Here we don't have many yellow or bright fog lights. Yes, I see them, but it's not a big pet peeve for me. Rear (the single, bright red) fog light - yes. Audi drivers seem to be the worst abusers of this phenomenon. I believe they don't know what the button does.

We just don't get much fog here. Perhaps others will chime in, but I've lived on the East coast in Maryland, on the West coast in Seattle, and now the middle in Colorado, and my experiences with actual dangerous-for-visibility fog in all those locations have numbered probably less than 10.

Do you have people driving around with parking lights on like we do here in the States?

They think it's the proper intermediary car illumination between day and night.

Post by **charlyW** » 19 Nov 2009, 04:52

Yes Mathew we have people driving with parking lights even in the dark ! I sometimes wonder if they have carrot vision.

Post by **billofdurham** » 19 Nov 2009, 13:00

In the UK drivers using fog lights are breaking the law unless visibility is reduced to 100 metres or less. This was one of my favourite 'stops' when I was on patrol because it was so easy to prove. Nowadays I wonder how many of our traffic police know this part of the law:

Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 Regulation 27
"No person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road any vehicle on which any lamp, hazard warning signal device or warning beacon of a type specified in an item in column 2 of the Table below is used in a manner specified in that item in column 3:
Front fog lamp
(a) Used so as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other persons using the road.
(b) Used so as to be lit at any time other than in conditions of seriously reduced visibility.
(c) Used so as to be lit when a vehicle is parked.
Rear fog lamp
(a) Used so as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to the driver of a following vehicle.
(b) Used so as to be lit at any time other than in conditions of seriously reduced visibility.
(c) Save in the case of an emergency vehicle, used so as to be lit when a vehicle is parked."

The parking light driving is a little more complex as Regulations 24 & 25 state:
"You must use headlights at night, except on restricted roads (those with street lights not more than 185 metres (600 feet) apart and which are generally subject to a speed limit of 30mph. BUT you must use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced."

This means that it is legal to drive on parking, or side in the UK, lights under the above conditions. Well, the law in the UK is an ass, possibly the same in the US and other countries, because anyone reading the Highway Code would then find that they are advised to use dipped headlights (low beams), or dim-dipped if fitted, at night in built up areas and in dull daytime weather, to ensure that you can be seen.

The Highway Code is not, in itself, law but it may be used in evidence in any court proceedings under the various Road Traffic Acts to establish liability.

I took several drivers to court for driving on side lights on a restricted road, with street lights and a 30mph limit and won each time on the strength of the Highway Code.

Bill.