The clue is in the name &#; fog lights are designed to aid visibility in, well, fog. That much is obvious, but there is still some confusion surrounding when and how they should be used.
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Aside from fog, fog lights are there to aid the driver in several low visibility conditions where the standard head and taillights aren&#;t powerful enough to keep you seen and safe.
We&#;re going to run through everything you need to know about fog lights, from when and how to use them, to the laws regulating their usage and placement.
Fog light checklist
Fog lights are designed to aid visibility when bad weather conditions reduce your ability to see the road ahead. Front fog lights can cut through mist, fog, rain or even dust as they are mounted lower down than headlights in the front of the car.
Rear fog lights use very bright bulbs to cut through mist and fog to alert other road users of your presence.
Front fog lights tend to be mounted low down, below the headlights. They illuminate the road directly in front of the vehicle. It is not a legal requirement to have front fog lights, and many manufacturers don&#;t offer them on their base models, reserving them for higher trims.
Front fog lights tend to rest below each headlightRear fog lights are integrated into the rear light cluster and shine directly rearwards, their job being to alert the vehicle behind you to your presence when visibility is poor. Having at least one rear fog lamp is a legal requirement in the UK, and it must be fitted to the centre or offside rear of a vehicle.
Daytime running lights (DRL) have been a legal requirement in the UK since , however, these are not the same as fog lights and do not aid visibility in inclement weather conditions. They are always on and are meant to make your car more visible rather than provide extra illumination.
Cars use standard symbols for front and rear fog lights. You&#;ll see them on light switches, and they will illuminate on the dash when lights are on. In some modern cars such as Teslas the symbols will appear on the infotainment screen rather than the display in front of the driver or on physical switches, and you may need to go through a couple of on-screen menus to access them.
The front fog light symbol shows a lamp pointing to the left. In front of the lamp is a wavy line with some diagonal lines cutting across it representing the light from the lamp.
The front fog light symbol points to the right and the rear points to the leftThe rear fog light symbol points to the right. It also has a wavy line to represent fog with diagonal straight lines running through it.
Fog lights are useful when your visibility is decreased such as when it snows or there is thick fog or mist covering the road ahead. They can also help when there is heavy spray on the motorway.
Using your high beams in these conditions can actually reduce your visibility as the bright light reflects off the fog or mist, making it even harder to see ahead.
The Highway Code states that you must not use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. Using this terminology means that this is a requirement and not a recommendation.
This is because incorrect use of fog lights can dazzle road users, while rear fog lights can obscure your brake lights. The general rule is that you should only use them when you cannot see more than 100 metres ahead. The Highway Code also states that you must switch both front and rear fog lights off when visibility improves.
Front fog lights can help you to see the road ahead when visibility is poor. Just as importantly, they make it easier for traffic coming the other way to spot you. The same goes for vehicles waiting to pull out from a junction up ahead. They help you to see and be seen.
Rear fog lights should always be switched on whenever visibility is poor, they are there to alert other road users of your presence.
Depending on the make and model of your car, there are a number of ways to turn on your fog lights. There will either be a separate button on the dashboard or a function on your indicator stalk which will allow you to control the fog lights.
Some cars have a rotary knob on the dashboard which can be pulled or pushed to activate the fog lights, others will have buttons next to this knob which will accomplish the same thing.
Some cars have a rotary know which can be pulled to turn on the fog lightsSome high-tech modern cars have very few physical buttons, with almost all functions controlled through a touchscreen. In these models it can be less obvious how to turn on your fog lights. You&#;ll probably need to go through a menu or two on the touchscreen.
Make sure you know how to turn on the fog lights so there&#;s no need for any head-scratching the first time you drive the car in poor visibility.
Most vehicles will have a symbol that illuminates on the dashboard or driver display to show that the fog lights are on &#; just like with the head lights.
The symbol for the front fog lights (if fitted) is an oval-shaped lamp with three diagonal lines intersected with a wavy vertical line to the left of it.
The symbol for the rear fog lights is an oval-shaped lamp with three horizontal lines bisected by a wavy vertical line on its right.
So many modern cars have automatic headlights that switch on and off without the driver needing to do anything. That&#;s not the case with fog lights &#; it&#;s up to the driver to decide if they are needed or not.
The Highway Code states drivers must switch the fog lights off when visibility improves. Leaving the front ones on may dazzle other drivers ahead, while the rear fog light (or lights) can obscure the brake lights. Neither the front nor rear fog lights may be left on when the vehicle is parked. You may get fined for incorrectly using your fog lights.
Yes, it&#;s a legal requirement in the UK. Any car will have at least one rear fog light, fitted to the centre or the offside rear of the vehicle. Front fog lights don&#;t have to be fitted. Car makers may fit them to higher-spec models, or they may be available as an optional extra. Generally, they are mounted low down on the front of the car, beneath the headlights.
Use rear fog lights when visibility is bad. How bad is bad? The Highway Code advises you should only use rear fog lights when visibility drops below 100 metres.
Because in very thick fog, a car&#;s standard rear lights can be tricky to see. Fog lights are brighter to cut through the gloom. That way any car or vehicle approaching your car from behind will spot you in good time.
When visibility is bad, rear fog lights help other vehicles to notice your car sooner than they otherwise would. These lights improve safety when driving in poor visibility.
Because fog lights are so bright, they can dazzle other road users when visibility is good. Some drivers turn on fog lights in the rain or a light mist. This creates glare and can distract other drivers.
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At night in clear visibility, fog lights are so bright they interfere with other drivers&#; night vision, making visibility worse, not better.
Bright rear fog lights can also make it harder for other road users to see your brake lights clearly, increasing the risk of a collision. Save fog lights for when visibility drops to below 100 metres.
Yes. The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations prohibits the use of fog lights when visibility is not reduced or when a vehicle is parked. So, if you use them when they are not needed you are risking a fine.
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Getting stuck by a cloud of thick fog during that chilly winter can tone down your plan for the day. Fog poses a serious threat to safety and security and also many drivers don&#;t have much experience of driving in such fogs. Visibility is almost nill during such situations especially on low-lit roads or at night.
Precisely the reason that most cars have fog light setups installed with regular headlights. Fog lights are designed in a way that they can cut through the fog and are actually lifesavers. Traditional Halogen car lights are now being replaced by LEDs. This technology is being used for car headlights, taillights, brake lights, interior lights, and even fog lights. Gone are the days of Halogens.
The water droplets combined with fog are all the more dangerous as they reflect the light into the driver&#;s eyes. LED fog lights can easily penetrate the fog and can make the visibility better. These white lights can really save the day while driving at night. The foremost function of fog lights for the car is to illuminate the blurred road ahead. Selecting the proper HID or LED fog lights and installing them at the right height is (two feet off the ground) will help you improve your visibility. The positioning and the light color are both essential to experience a safer drive during a foggy night. Before the winter starts, make sure fog lights for cars are properly working and emitting the best quality lights.
How to use your Fog lights
The driver can easily operate the fog lights from the headlight controls. Many vehicles use separate buttons to activate rear and front-fitted fog bulbs. Whereas others have collar-type switches/buttons that can be turned off and on when required. Some cars have a rotary light switch to control these lights too &#; where you just need to pull the switch and the fog lights will be turned on.
When to use your Fog lights
The slightest bit of mist in the air is not the reason enough to switch on your fog lights. Fog lights are not only designed just for fog days but also for other poor environmental conditions like heavy rains or snowy days. The fog lights make you visible to other drivers. They are mostly used when the car headlights are not enough to make you visible to other road users.
Which is the best Fog light for your car
Many newer models of cars have foregone the HID fog lights and are now opting for LED daytime running lights (DRLs). These have become a compulsory requirement for many cars. They are not designed to illuminate the road ahead but to give you visibility during bad weather conditions.
When the fog is cleared, the driver must switch off the fog lights because it might dazzle the other drivers. Be aware of the prevailing climatic conditions and use the fog lights accordingly. If you took a break in your journey, chances are that the fog lights might switch off with the ignition. Make sure that once you switch on your car&#;s ignition, the fog lights should be used only if it is still required.
Fog lights are only required when the visibility is poor and should not be turned on during normal days or nights. These lights do not have the same illumination capacity as the headlights, therefore the fog lights will not give you the extra light to help you see where you are going on the road.
One more no-no to use fog light is during a wet climate. The fog lights are extra bright, therefore their reflection is doubled by the wet road. The lights are anyhow caused extra glare from other cars windscreens and thus it becomes difficult to focus on the road.
Benefits of LED fog lights
LED fog lights are highly efficient and are a big styling piece of car accessories. Giving remarkable visibility in low light conditions, the driver can enjoy a safer drive as they can easily detect pebbles, stones, broken trees, animals, or bumps.
Like LED car headlights, LED fog lights are very cost-effective. They can last for a good amount of time as they pull less energy from the battery. Thus, increasing the overall efficiency of the car. Apart from this, these lights look very stylish when compared to HID fog lights. Providing a comfortable night drive vision, they do not harm or strain the driver&#;s eyes. Highly durable and incredibly efficient these car lights are now the talk of the town and are a favorite among many car manufacturers. OSRAM LED fog lights to deliver the best performance in low light conditions without burning a hole in your pocket. The brand is known for its super-efficient LED headlights for cars and high-quality services.
HID fog lights
High-Intensity Discharge or HID are also known as Xenon bulbs. These car lights are powerful than your old Halogens but do not lack the efficiency of LEDs. Though these car fog lights consume less energy and throw a bright light they cannot live much longer than LEDs.
They illuminate up to 70% of the road in low visibility conditions and they emit very less amount carbon dioxide &#; making them eco-friendly too.
Halogen Fog lights
Halogens are the light bulbs for cars for decades. Many vehicles are standardized with halogen fog lights in many parts of the globe. An age-old technology is now facing its elimination due to the better advancements in HID and LED fog lights technologies.
Halogens provide yellow lights that might create a problem for some drivers as they might harm their eyes. Thus, carmakers have upgraded to newer technologies.
What to choose??
It&#;s up to you what you decide to use. It depends on what you are looking for. If you are looking for a cheaper option without spending a fortune then Halogen fog lights are the right kind for you. You can upgrade to a better halogen bulb to boost your fog light performance.
Nevertheless, if you are looking for a smart buy and do not mind spending more initially, then LED or HID fog lights offer you better quality and performance. LED fog lights give you the look and style of your car with better performance saving you money in the longer run. Now owners have options for HID or LED car lights. They both have their benefits and limitations too. But are any given day better than Halogens.
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