Cornering Fog Lights

[bozzy.]

I’ve noticed a lot of cars lately have one of the fog lights illuminated when turning. For example, the left hand fog light comes on during a left hand turn.

I know it’s illegal to have your fog lights on when it isn’t foggy, however this seems to blur the boundaries a little and makes me question whether there’s been a change in legislation? Does anyone know any different?

Assuming having your fog lights on when visibility is fine is still illegal, what makes having just one on any different, legally speaking?

[Nickbrapp]

They have been around for donkeys years, the 2 generation old E class has them


Don’t think the police would bother stopping you as it’s on for a short time, it’s only 1 and they have better things to do.

Lots of people have now phased them out as it’s built into the headlights but lots of new stuff still has it.

[timbo999]

I don't think there is any legislation about having front fog lights on - only rear high intensity lights.

[Porkbrain]

bozzy. said:

I’ve noticed a lot of cars lately have one of the fog lights illuminated when turning. For example, the left hand fog light comes on during a left hand turn.

I know it’s illegal to have your fog lights on when it isn’t foggy, however this seems to blur the boundaries a little and makes me question whether there’s been a change in legislation? Does anyone know any different?

Assuming having your fog lights on when visibility is fine is still illegal, what makes having just one on any different, legally speaking?

My car has this feature, they are not operating as fog lights because they only light up when the headlights are on and the steering wheel is turned far enough, at this point they illuminate kerbs/verges etc., to the side that the wheel is turned, whereas a fog light casts it's light in front of the vehicle.

[Cyder]

Very simply, the lamp has to be homologated as both functions and the cornering function is only allowed to operate up to 40kph IIRC.

The regulation has allowed this for a long time as far as I’m aware.

[Cold]

You're using a labeling misnomer in your query, hence the confusion.

[donkmeister]

My 2004 Mercedes​ (and many 1960s/70s Citroens and later Vauxhalls) swivel the headlamps around to accomplish the same goal... I assume that the MOT lighting test is done with the steering wheel straight ahead. I have no idea if they check for whacky lighting vs steering angles as part of the test.

Ps I am of the "foglights when it isn't very very foggy are a badge of tttishness" school of thought, I don't drive around demonstrating to other motorists that I have no blank cutouts on my front valance just in case it matters.

[PorkInsider]

timbo999 said:

I don't think there is any legislation about having front fog lights on - only rear high intensity lights.

The rule is the same for front and rear. They must not be used unless visibility is seriously reduced.

[Cat]

PorkInsider said:

The rule is the same for front and rear. They must not be used unless visibility is seriously reduced.

Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 reg 27

Cat

[Cyder]

donkmeister said:

My 2004 Mercedes? (and many 1960s/70s Citroens and later Vauxhalls) swivel the headlamps around to accomplish the same goal... I assume that the MOT lighting test is done with the steering wheel straight ahead. I have no idea if they check for whacky lighting vs steering angles as part of the test.

Not at MoT timing as far as I'm aware, but the regulation requirement for swivel lights is very strict on the vehicle turning radius v speed v angle of the lamp to reduce the risk of glaring oncoming drivers.

I've mentioned before, but the ECE vehicle lighting regulations are probably the most complex automotive requirements we have to follow as OEM's.

The main lighting regulation which only covers the installation of the exterior lamps (not the intensity, functionality, construction etc) is 131 pages by itself. (Reg48)

Reg 119 covers cornering lamps and is another 27 pages (a mere baby compared to the two relating to dipped beam at 73 and 72 pages).

[grumpy52]

Even Ford Transits have had them for a few years .
They can be a bit distracting at first especially on roundabouts , I was thinking that another vehicle was trying to get past .

[Monkeylegend]

I was told a few times I had a front foglight not working if the front wheels were turned when I had stopped in my last two Mercs. I was pleased when they moved them into the headlight cluster to make way for the DRL's.

[Cliftonite]

.
Parking with headlights +/or fog lights lit is illegal but an increasing number of cars are actually designed to do just this - "See You Home" () lights, anyone?
.

[budgie smuggler]

Cliftonite said:

.
Parking with headlights +/or fog lights lit is illegal but an increasing number of cars are actually designed to do just this - "See You Home" () lights, anyone?
.

Is that not the DRLs normally?

[Sheepshanks]

Cliftonite said:

.
Parking with headlights..... lit is illegal...

Is it?

Anyway, whatever functions the car comes with new are covered by the car's EU type approval. That over-rides UK law.

[Shiv_P]

Cliftonite said:

.
Parking with headlights +/or fog lights lit is illegal but an increasing number of cars are actually designed to do just this - "See You Home" () lights, anyone?
.

Cars we have they are called "coming home" lights I believe
But yes, odd that they do this

[jonwm]

You can turn them off on the wife's new 5008, the LED lights are bright enough as they are, under the menu they are called something like adaptive lighting or something

[Haltamer]

Not a big fan of cornering foglights; Seem like a cheap copout for proper adaptive headlights. They are useful for working out where fords are going on roundabouts.

On the point of Fords and silly cornering fogs; The new Focus with adaptive headlights still uses cornering fog lights - Seems rather pointless to me, given that light from the fogs isn't exactly magnificent (In terms of focused light on the road)

[daydotz]

If you don't like Corning light's don't buy a Renault my fogs switch on when I put the car in reverse

Renault logic

[Stoofa]

My new to me car has cornering fogs alongside the LED headlights. To be honest the LED headlights throw up plenty of light as it is and that light is very wide (unlike the HIDs on my old car there is no side-to-side sway as they simply don't need to).
However the LED fogs certainly do give that extra bit of light as you're cornering.
Can never have too much light I suppose - so long as I'm not causing too much hassle for oncoming traffic.