Fog light use

[caelite]

Hey folks

Had a wee discussion with my dad about this and we couldnt actually figure out the answer to this. So I know that fog lights should only be used in fog but I frequently use them when driving at night through extremely heavy snow or rain as I find they reflect back far less light than my main beams and improve visibility. Although I tend to leave the back fog light off as it doesnt really serve a purpous in those conditions other than drilling a red dot into the eyes of following traffic.

The only vague thing I could find on gov.uk was Here. Stating that headlights should be used when visibility is below 100m. So on the very slim chance I get a pull would I legally be in the right by using fogs to improve visibility in non-foggy yet adverse conditions?

[Cat]

You cannot use fog lights unless visibility is "seriously reduced" - highway code rule 236. Rule 226, which is referenced by rule 236, defines "seriously reduced" as being generally where you cannot see more than 100m.

tl;dr if visibility is such that you can't see more than 100m you can use your fog lights if you want.

Cat

[velocefica]

I don't use fog lights unless it's very foggy (obviously) or a really torrential downpour with lots of spray and it's an unlit road.

Chances you will be pulled are probably quite slim. Unless it's a mid August evening and you drive about with them cause it's 'cool and /or 'wicked'

[Bigyoke]

velocefica said:

...or a really torrential downpour with lots of spray and it's an unlit road.

The diffusion effect thereby further reducing visibility for other drivers! They can see you but nothing else. By far the biggest hazard is drivers assuming they can drive normally in heavy fog because they have some extra lights on.

[CanAm]

I'm pretty sure that when I was a learner (many years ago) the Highway Code specifically referred to "fog or falling snow".

Edited by CanAm on Saturday 22 August 09:47

[Stickyfinger]

CanAm said:

I'm pretty sure that when I was a learner (many years ago) the Highway Code specifically referred to "fog or falling snow".

Edited by CanAm on Saturday 22 August 09:47

FOG lights in the rain? ....THANKS for ruining MY vision.....turn them OFF pls unless its foggy.

[megapixels83]

I thought the rules were in situations where visibility is reduced to less that 100m headlights must be used and fog likes can be used but must be turned off when visibility improves. nothing mentioned about fog. I have driven in snow and rain where visability was reduced well under 100m so fog likes are permissible.

[herewego]

caelite said:

Hey folks

Had a wee discussion with my dad about this and we couldn't actually figure out the answer. So I know that fog lights should only be used in fog but I frequently use them when driving at night through extremely heavy snow or rain as I find they reflect back far less light than my main beams and improve visibility. Although I tend to leave the back fog light off as it doesn't really serve a purpose in those conditions other than drilling a red dot into the eyes of following traffic.

The only vague thing I could find on gov.uk was Here. Stating that headlights should be used when visibility is below 100m. So on the very slim chance I get a pull would I legally be in the right by using fogs to improve visibility in non-foggy yet adverse conditions?

It also says you may use foglights if visibility below 100m. Foglights reduce visibility for oncoming drivers so I think the main thing is not to use them unless the 100m applies and they are actually useful.
Some people use them all the time to increase their own visibility i.e. coming though keep out of my way. This is a sign of a poor driver.

[paintman]

https://www.gov.uk/driving-adverse-weather-conditi...
"226
You MUST use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres (328 feet). You may also use front or rear fog lights but you MUST switch them off when visibility improves (see Rule 236). Law RVLR regs 25 & 27"

"236
You MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226) 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"

[Stickyfinger]

megapixels83 said:

I thought the rules were in situations where visibility is reduced to less that 100m headlights must be used and fog likes can be used but must be turned off when visibility improves. nothing mentioned about fog. I have driven in snow and rain where visability was reduced well under 100m so fog likes are permissible.

Wide angle lights in the rain are really not necessary nor safe for other drivers.
What vision advantage do you get if your moving faster that 20mph with Fogs in Rain?
You want to see and be seen OK, so you use lights that scatter the oncoming drivers vision ?


(At times, eg crawling along in a monsoon, anything helps)

[Monkeylegend]

My front fog lights are DRL's and I keep them on all the time

[Pete317]

My take on it is that if you can see well enough to be doing 80+ mph on the motorway then you definitely don't need foglights.
Also, if you can see the tail lights of other vehicles well enough then they can see your tail lights well enough, so your rear fogs are probably blinding them.

[herewego]

Pete317 said:

My take on it is that if you can see well enough to be doing 80+ mph on the motorway then you definitely don't need foglights.
Also, if you can see the tail lights of other vehicles well enough then they can see your tail lights well enough, so your rear fogs are probably blinding them.

OP said he doesn't use rear fog light which is a bit telling. If visibility is so good that rear fog is blinding then visibility can't be that bad and front fogs should not be in use.

[Stickyfinger]

herewego said:

OP said he doesn't use rear fog light which is a bit telling. If visibility is so good that rear fog is blinding then visibility can't be that bad and front fogs should not be in use.

Me thinks OP has the way of thinking..."Hey ! I look soooo cool with my lights on and the car goes faster"

Please listen to your Dad, he has more experience.

[PorkInsider]

Stickyfinger said:

herewego said:

OP said he doesn't use rear fog light which is a bit telling. If visibility is so good that rear fog is blinding then visibility can't be that bad and front fogs should not be in use.

Me thinks OP has the way of thinking..."Hey ! I look soooo cool with my lights on and the car goes faster"

Please listen to your Dad, he has more experience.

Totally agree with this.

It smacks of looking for an excuse to use them, rather than them actually being necessary.

Interesting article here on young drivers using fogs because they bizarrely think it 'looks cool'.

http://www.swiftcover.com/about/press/fog-lights/

[matchmaker]

CanAm said:

I'm pretty sure that when I was a learner (many years ago) the Highway Code specifically referred to "fog or falling snow".

Edited by CanAm on Saturday 22 August 09:47

My recollection as well.

[Stoofa]

Monkeylegend said:

My front fog lights are DRL's and I keep them on all the time

However, as you know, when in "DRL mode" they are not at full brightness at night.

[anonymous-user]

The only time I have found fog lights work is peasoup fog, and I was travelling at 20mph.I find in normal fog they make fall difference and othertimes they justlight up the sides a bit.

When people drive with them on in other conditions I just think knobber as they are just a linerage to the old spot lights people use to buy.

[Monkeylegend]

Stoofa said:

Monkeylegend said:

My front fog lights are DRL's and I keep them on all the time

However, as you know, when in "DRL mode" they are not at full brightness at night.

But with the adaptive Zenons and cornering lights they don't need to be.

[grumpyscot]

I recall one of the TV Road Cop progs years ago - they stopped a guy who had his front fog lights on. They asked him if he knew what the big thing in the sky was - he replied, "Yes, it's the moon." "In that case, if you can see that far you don't need your fog lights."