Foglights, what's the problem officer?

[Geezah]

I've been driving for what seems like forever and I have to say, I have never experienced any discomfiture by cars driving around with their foglights on when it's not foggy. I have been stopped once in my 'yoof' for having my foglights on with no fog and yet I haven't seen any of the multitudinous bo-zos who drive with no lights on at all in poor visbility or their mincing sidelights on, being stopped.

......and yet, it is against the law and many people get really upset by it. Can anyone tell me why? By my wide and vast experience it seems to be much ado about nothing.

(Standing by for incoming)

 

[srhutch]

Front fog lights I have no issue with, but rears when they are not needed really burns my retinas.

Even when slightly foggy there is no need to have them on when there is a car that is clearly visible :headbang:

Also the VW group like to use only one front fog at a time these days on their new cars. Most people won't even know why :lol:

 

[Mister T]

Because they aren't directional and can dazzle oncoming drivers.

Same as driving around with you main beam on.

 

[Geezah]

Never been dazzled by them in my 30 years plus of driving, hence my post.

 

[BRC]

Agree, the rear fog lights can be a real pain especially when it's raining or for one reason or another ones windscreen isn't completely clear. I'm sure we all remember the bozo's who connected their bolt on fog lights to their brake switches and just how dazzling that was. Mercifully that was eventually jumped on and made illegal and for good reasons which in my view still apply - they can and do dazzle the driver behind. Fronts not so bad but they offer no night time assistance so why put them on. Suppose the biggest clue in all this is the word "fog" preceding "lights".

 

[obewan]

I'm sure we all remember the bozo's who connected their bolt on fog lights to their brake switches

In my defence M'lud I WAS a teenager (1.3 Chrysler Sunbeam)

 

[paulgs1000]

Interesting - I use my front fogs on the Zed at night because it fills in the dark areas where the relatively poor headlights don't illuminate. They come off though where there are other vehicles as I do find that most front fogs do dazzle - this is particularly bad in rain and I've cursed many a time at other road users having their front fogs on during wet weather.

Rear fog lights should be singles - doubles just confuse as brake lights.

:driving:

 

[maxman]

One of my pet hates,if drivers can't see in normal conditions without using fog lights ,they need to go and get their eyes tested.They dazzle oncoming drivers,some models more so than others.I would like to see the police Inforce the law on this just like using phones and not wearing seat belts . :evil:

 

[paulgs1000]

A lot of it is fashion and being flash but I like daytime running lights. I use dipped headlights in the day - ex motorcyclists and you can go on about folk should be able to see but it didn't stop a 60 mph accident involving me and my youngest son - 'really sorry didn't see you' was the cry . . . .there's quite a few posts about the Zed not being seen as it is so low. Ever heard of the blind spot on the retina (where the optical nerve enters the back of the retina) - reckoned to be the cause of quite a few 'didn't see you' motorcycle accidents and also the period where your eye moves and the brain 'fills in' rather than actually being able to show a real image - pilots are taught to check three distances on one axis to try and avoid this (and their vision is constantly checked). Quite a lot to this subject.

:driving:

 

[aquazi]

Front fogs i see no issue with.. imo i fine some cars DRL's more dazzling especially when coming up to a hill or an angle

Also the VW group like to use only one front fog at a time these days on their new cars. Most people won't even know why :lol:

Are you sure these are not just the active cornering most VW group cars have... so turn the wheel and it puts the fog on to light the curb.. the wifes turned it on in her Merc too.. think that was by accident though!

 

[Taz]

Are you sure these are not just the active cornering most VW group cars have... so turn the wheel and it puts the fog on to light the curb.. the wifes turned it on in her Merc too.. think that was by accident though!

i have these, i hate them lol

 

[Jasey]

Yep if oncoming cars are having trouble seeing where they are going and use their fogs lights I always try to assist them by iluminating the road with my main beams.

Just trying to help them see where they are going

 

[sars]

No real issue with front fog lights, however seen a few idiots at night with side lights and fogs...just why oke:

However, I would like to see all drivers that use rear fog lights when it's raining, banned from driving for a month, it really is that dangerous, especially on the motorway.

The law btw is for improper use of lights, it is as wrong not to use your lights at the right time as use them when it's not.

 

[aquazi]

Are you sure these are not just the active cornering most VW group cars have... so turn the wheel and it puts the fog on to light the curb.. the wifes turned it on in her Merc too.. think that was by accident though!

i have these, i hate them lol

You can turn them off! Certainly possible on the Audi's it is though the DIS as lighting option.

 

[fixit man]

I find the front fog lights reflect off the road especially when wet and dark and dazzle me.

Annoys me, it's usually boys racer types that are trying to show off their car or trying to show they are special cos. They've got lights :headbang:

 

[Marlon]

I was pulled over a few years back in my Audi A4 for having my spots on, I just received a warning. I drive most of the time now with my fogs on in the Zed, but I've masked off 90% of the lights with tape (grey insulation tap matching the colour of the car) leaving a narrow strip of light so not as obvious to traffic cops and not as annoying to other motorists, but still looks good.

 

[corsaire77]

Never been dazzled by them in my 30 years plus of driving, hence my post.

In the wet. The issue is wet tarmac on a rainy day. Then it does dazzle and confuse a bit, at least in my case.

 

[Bing]

Any use of fogs when not foggy annoys the hell out of me but not as much as people relying on DLR lights when it is dark! :headbang:

+1

 

[jaRED]

I never really understand why people feel the need to put their for lights on when in the middle of a line of cars.

But I hate the people that don't have enough lights on in poor visibilty are worse. Especially grey/ silver cars that blend dangerously with the road

 

[srhutch]

Front fogs i see no issue with.. imo i fine some cars DRL's more dazzling especially when coming up to a hill or an angle

Also the VW group like to use only one front fog at a time these days on their new cars. Most people won't even know why :lol:

Are you sure these are not just the active cornering most VW group cars have... so turn the wheel and it puts the fog on to light the curb.. the wifes turned it on in her Merc too.. think that was by accident though!

That's what they are, I know that, but a lot won't. A bit like the extra brake lights on our BM's when you apply extra pressure.