On the road today, I saw:

[SparkFox]

3 people pull out in front of me, countless without lights in the fog/rain, one van driving along with a flat (had just passed a petrol station) and one low-speed crash.
I had driven two miles.

Anyone able to beat that?

[nobodyknows]

Badly cut up (deliberate I think) by a Range Rover, had an Astra VXR (with fog lights on) miss me by a couple of feet as he pulled out to overtake then he had to brake hard to pull back in as something was coming the other way - cock!

[Cupramax]

Plenty of idiots with side lights and fog lights on

[Somnophore]

A range rover trying to kiss my back bumper, I think people sometimes tailgate in the dark and fog because they are using your lights to see, but that's the time I'm more likely to have to brake sharply.

[LuS1fer]

Cupramax said:

Plenty of idiots with side lights and fog lights on

This is correct in fog.

In the fog we had yesterday, I was barely able to spot anyone with lights on or foglights surprisingly - but then "it wasn't dark was it" so the foglight brain bypassees woouldn't even consider it, after all "no-one can see me posing in fog".

[hesnotthemessiah]

A partridge in a pear tree!

[kambites]

LuS1fer said:

Cupramax said:

Plenty of idiots with side lights and fog lights on

This is correct in fog.

In the fog we had yesterday, I was barely able to spot anyone with lights on or foglights surprisingly - but then "it wasn't dark was it" so the foglight brain bypassees woouldn't even consider it, after all "no-one can see me posing in fog".

Whilst in some very extreme fog it may well be the best thing to do, it's still not actually legal. The highway code states that you MUST use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced and that you may not use fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced - there are no conditions in which you are allowed to use fog lights but not head lights.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 29th December 11:36

[LuS1fer]

kambites said:

LuS1fer said:

Cupramax said:

Plenty of idiots with side lights and fog lights on

This is correct in fog.

In the fog we had yesterday, I was barely able to spot anyone with lights on or foglights surprisingly - but then "it wasn't dark was it" so the foglight brain bypassees woouldn't even consider it, after all "no-one can see me posing in fog".

Whilst in some very extreme fog it may well be the best thing to do, it's still not actually legal. The highway code states that you MUST use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced.

I agree that's what it says in R.226 but the difficulty with that interpretaion is using headlights in thick fog can actually reduce your visibility by illuminating the fog itself when the object is to extend your visibility which illuminating the area beneath the fog does. Indeed, the other evening, I had to extinguish the main lights to avoid this.

[Cupramax]

LuS1fer said:

Cupramax said:

Plenty of idiots with side lights and fog lights on

This is correct in fog.

In the fog we had yesterday, I was barely able to spot anyone with lights on or foglights surprisingly - but then "it wasn't dark was it" so the foglight brain bypassees woouldn't even consider it, after all "no-one can see me posing in fog".

Sorry, I omitted that it was a bit misty where I am, sufficient for headlights but nothing else.

[Big Rod]

Once drove over 100 miles on sides and fogs through a blizzard. Couldn't have done it any other way!

[andy-xr]

Load of foglight wkers out yesterday. I was also a bit of a wker by passing an outside lane moron (who eventually moved) then lifting off so he had to brake. Sorry dude


/forgiveness list complete

[SparkFox]

Actually I had a better on a couple of days ago. M1, 4-lane section, one car being tailgated by another in lane 3, (Lanes 1+2 clear).
I'm coming up in lane 4, guessed what the numpty was going to do so covering the brake, tailgater pulls into lane four in front of me.

Should have just passed them both in lane one really.

[Chicane-UK]

Had one yesterday overtake two cars, coming towards me. He left it *really* too late and I'm sure the people on the other side were doing the speed limit.. was just starting to think about taking evasive action but he nipped in just in time. Gave him a flash of the lights and a "wker" gesture for his stupidity!

[12gauge]

Idiot in VW Polo in left lane on roundabout (one of those stupid ones with traffic lights on as well) cut in front of me to go right, nearly took my front end off. To be fair, as (per usual) the signage was non-existent. I almost took the wrong exit too, but unlike him, wouldnt risk causing an accident to save 30 seconds.

Theres plenty of idiots on our roads, but their would be a lot less if the Dept of transport actually properly signposted routes. We dont all have crap-nav afterall.

Then again, i guess the pikeys would probably steal them.

[Toltec]

Cupramax said:

Plenty of idiots with side lights and fog lights on

I have never really understood the vitriol directed at this, plenty of drivers turn on their headlights way too early as well imho, but I do not see it as some kind of style statement.

If anything front fog lights are less dazzling than dipped beam yet still make a car more visible than side lights. Are they that much different than DRLs? There are definitely conditions in which you do not need headlamps to see where you are going, but lights are needed to make the car more visible to other road users. Just consider how many times you see a car in town with no lights at night, the driver can obviously see so well with the street lighting that they do not even notice they have not turned on the lights. Is this not a case where lights that make the vehicle more visible to others are more appropriate?

I tend to use the headlamp adjuster to put the headlamps in their most dipped position when I feel that lights are needed for visibility of my car, but not illumination of the road. If you cannot do this then why not use front fogs?

The HC reference is clear on their use so I am happy to take the line that they should not be used from that point of view. Interestingly though if they should only be used with headlamps on why can you turn them on with only side lights?

Anybody with some rational thoughts on this?

[useyourdellusion]

Toltec said:

Cupramax said:

Plenty of idiots with side lights and fog lights on

I have never really understood the vitriol directed at this, plenty of drivers turn on their headlights way too early as well imho, but I do not see it as some kind of style statement.

If anything front fog lights are less dazzling than dipped beam yet still make a car more visible than side lights. Are they that much different than DRLs? There are definitely conditions in which you do not need headlamps to see where you are going, but lights are needed to make the car more visible to other road users. Just consider how many times you see a car in town with no lights at night, the driver can obviously see so well with the street lighting that they do not even notice they have not turned on the lights. Is this not a case where lights that make the vehicle more visible to others are more appropriate?

I tend to use the headlamp adjuster to put the headlamps in their most dipped position when I feel that lights are needed for visibility of my car, but not illumination of the road. If you cannot do this then why not use front fogs?

The HC reference is clear on their use so I am happy to take the line that they should not be used from that point of view. Interestingly though if they should only be used with headlamps on why can you turn them on with only side lights?

Anybody with some rational thoughts on this?

I find that front fog lights are pretty much useless in any scenario. Then there are the delusional mindset who think it somehow looks cool. It doesn't, it makes them look like a prick. They also feel the need to draw attention to themselves for some reason and I really don't have time for attention wes.

If you find a good use for them then fair enough, I never have yet...

[Toltec]

useyourdellusion said:

Toltec said:

Cupramax said:

Plenty of idiots with side lights and fog lights on

Anybody with some rational thoughts on this?

I find that front fog lights are pretty much useless in any scenario. Then there are the delusional mindset who think it somehow looks cool. It doesn't, it makes them look like a prick. They also feel the need to draw attention to themselves for some reason and I really don't have time for attention wes.

If you find a good use for them then fair enough, I never have yet...

Just realised it may have looked like I was implying your post was irrational, I just picked it because it was concise.

The only time they offer any help in fog is when it is so heavy you are down to 5-10mph and looking for the road markings to keep you on track. Any higher speed and they do not throw far enough to be of use. I have an idea that they are mainly fitted as a marketing exercise, it would be nice to find a use for them though. There is a certain irony in your point about using lights to draw attention to your car

Cool is down to the beholder really, I think a nice loud V8 is cool, though no doubt many people don't.

If they were called 'Town Lights' and had a diffusing lens would it be OK to use them, would they be useful?

Makes me think of the threads about 'the most useless gadget on my car', you would think fog lights would come in at the top.

[heebeegeetee]

This is the only time of year when I am genuinely nervous on the roads. This is the one time of year imo, when more people are not doing their same same time/same route/same car/same journey/almost all the time like they usually do.

And by god it shows. Stay safe, 'cos there are killer drivers out there at this time of year.

[Sam1990]

Some idiot in a Corsa tailgaiting a Discovery on a NSL B road in wet, foggy conditions. The discovery already doing 50-60mph, more than suitable for the conditions. One a long, blind bend the corsa desides to try to overtake, lacking the power he's creeping past. A Transit is coming the other way, but instead of backing off and pulling back in, the Corsa sits 3 a-breast in the middle of the road and misses the Transit by inches and somehow keeping his wing mirrors, carries on creeping past the Disco and then go on to sit in front of the Disco until reaching a junction and turning off.

Absolute tt.

[FamilyDub]

... I saw:-

a) at a weird 4-exit mini round-a-bout; a dark car giving way to me waving the 'w@nker' sign in my direction, shortly after skidding to a halt and almost T-boning me at ~30mph (!).
b) a female driver bemused why the entire M&S/petrol station forecourt was honking like mad after she, i) parked in such a way as to obscure the only way out, trapping everyone, ii) decided when finally back to her car, that then was the best time to re-apply makeup and brush her hair...