Fog Lights!!!

[g3org3y]

Gregory CooperS said:

I live in Essex

Mistake #1 imo.

Zad said:

Low mounted "fog" lights often give better illumination of where the road edge is in the area closer to the car, especially in areas where there are no kerb stones. It is just plain rude not to turn them off with oncoming traffic though.

On crappy country roads I find there is some merit in using the fog lights, but typically high beam is my friend. Lights on the E30 (non projector lenses) are scandalously bad (despite Philips X-Treme bulbs in the dipped and Vision Plus in the pain)!

*Al* said:

What bothers me are the total tts that don't think to turn their lights on at dusk, in the rain or any other times of reduced visability.

Often in silver or black cars. Even worse if they're on the motorway.

*Al* said:

Do people really find front 'fog' lights blinding?(probably just irritating?) I honestly don't think they are, but get some vehicles with HIDs (legal)infront or behind and i'd say this is more irritating as they can be blinding!!(yet legal).I never seen dazzling fog lights, just annoying HID and ill adjusted dip beam headlights.

Never been dazzled by oncoming front fogs.

Rear fogs on the motorway - different story (often come out in rain I notice, driver also more likely to be a MLM) and often require a flash of main beam to wake up the driver in question.

Range Rover HIDs - worst culprit imo. High and straight into your eyes. Proper retina burning action there.

[Ari]

MonkeyBusiness said:

BonzoG said:

The only time you need the nearby road edge as a visual guide is when travelling very slowly - like you would in thick fog. Which is why they're called fog lights!

Sorry disagree. Whilst they may be called fog lights, on dark, unlit, and mainly country roads, they are of most use.

Eh? How? What do they illuminate that your headlights don't??

[Ricky_M]

Can't say I have ever been "dazzled" by front fogs.

Usually do by people who don't adjust the height of their headlights when carrying extra luggage/passengers.

[terzo]

Wills2 said:

terzo said:

Front fog lights do give extra light for the driver. Not for a huge distance but when you're on lanes with bends every 50-100m the extra light does help - try it! For the people that say it lights up 6 foot in front of the car - what pray tell would be the point of them then?

Front fogs can be of use in rain, snow, fog/mist - rear fog lights are another matter and indeed a horrible thing to be behind if the weather does not merit them.

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.

Edited by Wills2 on Sunday 9th January 21:38

Did you feel like Rimmer quoting that?

[*Al*]

Ari said:

MonkeyBusiness said:

BonzoG said:

The only time you need the nearby road edge as a visual guide is when travelling very slowly - like you would in thick fog. Which is why they're called fog lights!

Sorry disagree. Whilst they may be called fog lights, on dark, unlit, and mainly country roads, they are of most use.

Eh? How? What do they illuminate that your headlights don't??

They can and do help illuminate areas that your dipped or full beam do not.As said areas to the side or verge become more visable, just because it's maybe a few feet ahead doesn't mean it can't help as it improves peripheral vision. Alternatively you can argue it's misuse and illegal, but if no-one is around for you to bother, then i really can't see a problem?

[volvoforlife]

another pointless and tedious fog light thread.

you can't do anything about it so why go on about it. there are far more important motoring matters going on like how are you going to continue to afford to drive a car in the first place for much longer.

[Wills2]

terzo said:

Wills2 said:

terzo said:

Front fog lights do give extra light for the driver. Not for a huge distance but when you're on lanes with bends every 50-100m the extra light does help - try it! For the people that say it lights up 6 foot in front of the car - what pray tell would be the point of them then?

Front fogs can be of use in rain, snow, fog/mist - rear fog lights are another matter and indeed a horrible thing to be behind if the weather does not merit them.

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.

Edited by Wills2 on Sunday 9th January 21:38

Did you feel like Rimmer quoting that?

Compared to the st you wrote above trying to justify why you can't drive without your fog lights on in normal conditions, not so much.

[Wills2]

volvoforlife said:

another pointless and tedious fog light thread.

you can't do anything about it so why go on about it. there are far more important motoring matters going on like how are you going to continue to afford to drive a car in the first place for much longer.

This is Pistonheads mate we all drive lorries and earn 40k a year so it's not an issue.

[terzo]

Wills2 said:

Compared to the st you wrote above trying to justify why you can't drive without your fog lights on in normal conditions, not so much.

Did I say normal conditions? No.
Did I say they can be of use in rain, snow, fog/mist - Yes.

Learn to read chap.

[Wills2]

terzo said:

Wills2 said:

Compared to the st you wrote above trying to justify why you can't drive without your fog lights on in normal conditions, not so much.

Did I say normal conditions? No.
Did I say they can be of use in rain, snow, fog/mist - Yes.

Learn to read chap.

I think you'll find that "rain" is a pretty normal condition in this country. Do you even know what a fog light is designed to do?

Not sure what you drive but I'd get your lights looked at or walk (it will be safer) down to Specsavers.

[BonzoG]

terzo said:

For the people that say it lights up 6 foot in front of the car - what pray tell would be the point of them then?

That is exactly the point of them! When you make someone travel at speed down a narrow corridor, focusing in the distance is the easiest way to navigate a precise path down it. If you fixate yourself on the edges, you end up constantly driving to avoid them, and subconsciously carve out an oscillatory path. A sort of 'bouncing off the walls' effect. This is why they're of bugger all use at speed - you shouldn't be looking that closely.

In fog of course, you can't travel at speed because you can't bloody see! So you need the nearby periphery as a reference point. So you use your fog lights to illuminate the few feet in front of you that your headlights don't, but which you wouldn't normally pay any attention to whilst driving at normal speeds.

Frankly if your fog lights are bright and focused enough to be lighting up bends 50-100m away, then they won't be any good in actual thick 'can barely see over the bonnet' fog and you should check with the dealer if they fitted a second set of dipped beams by mistake.

Front fog abusers are just about tolerable, except when I'm in the '5. Twin-rear fogs masking the brake lights are just asking to be rear ended.

[terzo]

Wikipedia said:

Front fog lamps

Front fog lamps provide a wide, bar-shaped beam of light with a sharp cutoff at the top, and are generally aimed and mounted low. They may be either white or selective yellow. They are intended for use at low speed to increase the illumination directed towards the road surface and verges in conditions of poor visibility due to rain, fog, dust or snow. As such, they are often most effectively used in place of dipped-beam headlamps, reducing the glareback from fog or falling snow, although the legality varies by jurisdiction of using front fog lamps without low beam headlamps.

& Wikipedia is the be all, so shut it.

[BonzoG]

terzo said:

Wikipedia said:

Front fog lamps

Front fog lamps provide a wide, bar-shaped beam of light with a sharp cutoff at the top, and are generally aimed and mounted low. They may be either white or selective yellow. They are intended for use at low speed to increase the illumination directed towards the road surface and verges in conditions of poor visibility due to rain, fog, dust or snow. As such, they are often most effectively used in place of dipped-beam headlamps, reducing the glareback from fog or falling snow, although the legality varies by jurisdiction of using front fog lamps without low beam headlamps.

& Wikipedia is the be all, so shut it.

My bold. See the bit about low speed and poor visibility? Not high speed bombing along on a clear summer evening. As some of those who 'need to see the verge' or 'look well cool' would have you think they are for.

[shuvitupya]

I don't see the point in front or rear fog lights unless driving in virtually zero visibility.

Too many idiots use fog lights in rain and mist at night without having a brain to realise that if they turn the rear fog lights off,
then everyone behind will be able to see a lot better.

[terzo]

BonzoG said:

terzo said:

Wikipedia said:

Front fog lamps

Front fog lamps provide a wide, bar-shaped beam of light with a sharp cutoff at the top, and are generally aimed and mounted low. They may be either white or selective yellow. They are intended for use at low speed to increase the illumination directed towards the road surface and verges in conditions of poor visibility due to rain, fog, dust or snow. As such, they are often most effectively used in place of dipped-beam headlamps, reducing the glareback from fog or falling snow, although the legality varies by jurisdiction of using front fog lamps without low beam headlamps.

& Wikipedia is the be all, so shut it.

My bold. See the bit about low speed and poor visibility? Not high speed bombing along on a clear summer evening. As some of those who 'need to see the verge' or 'look well cool' would have you think they are for.

I repent your honour *sigh*

[Flintstone]

terzo said:

For the people that say it lights up 6 foot in front of the car - what pray tell would be the point of them then?

Because, as already been explained in excrutiating detail, they are designed to be used in such conditions where that short distance is important. They are at low level to avoid the light becoming refracted at the driver's eye level and therefore not called 'it's a bit dark' lights or 'there's a bit of rain about' lights.

It's really not that difficult.

Edited by Flintstone on Monday 10th January 00:35

[terzo]

Flintstone said:

terzo said:

For the people that say it lights up 6 foot in front of the car - what pray tell would be the point of them then?

Because, as already been explained in excrutiating detail, they are designed to be used in such conditions where that short distance is important. They are at low level to avoid the light becoming refracted at the driver's eye level and therefore not called 'it's a bit dark' lights or 'there's a bit of rain about' lights.

It's really not that difficult.

Edited by Flintstone on Monday 10th January 00:35

Yawn. go stand in front of a car with fogs on
10ft away - still see em?
20ft away - still see em?
30ft away - still see em?

Here's the crazy part, you can still see them at 150ft and so can the driver!

Nerds as above that rely on refracted light 'conditions' best stay in the lab, need more testing.

[Flintstone]

terzo said:

Flintstone said:

terzo said:

For the people that say it lights up 6 foot in front of the car - what pray tell would be the point of them then?

Because, as already been explained in excrutiating detail, they are designed to be used in such conditions where that short distance is important. They are at low level to avoid the light becoming refracted at the driver's eye level and therefore not called 'it's a bit dark' lights or 'there's a bit of rain about' lights.

It's really not that difficult.

Yawn. go stand in front of a car with fogs on
10ft away - still see em?
20ft away - still see em?
30ft away - still see em?

Thanks for proving my point.

They are to be used to help you see in the appropriate conditions, not to shine in the face of oncoming traffic. They are also designed to keep the light low for a reason. Why do you think there's legislation detailing when to use them?

[LeeThr]

BlueProp said:

Gregory CooperS said:

Hello,

i am newbie on here,
I live in Essex and at the moment there seems to be a fashion going around that people are using their fog light with their headlights or using them as their side lights. I drive, Mini Cooper S, everyday to work and back and drive down same country lanes, so when driving down a dark road and then a fker driving down with all this headlights and fog lights on. Your retina feels like its burning.
And NO, it has not been foggy when this has happened.

Any one else come across this while driving? or just in Essex

It's because they think they look cool. Shame the BiB don't start fining them for improper use.

Dont think there will be much luck with the BiB around here, was with a few people a few months ago. All met up in a local car park, out of the way of the residential places so nobody to disturb as usual. BiB come aorund because of a minor incident somewhere else about 20 minuites ago just to make sure everything else is fine now, fair enough. 2 people who hadnt got to the new place yet come in, ones a tt for driving around with fogs on so cue he comes in looking like a christmas tree. The other dodgey connection or switch somewhere (fixed now) one of the fogs was on. Both pull up, the BiB come up and ask why they had them on etc, and all they do is breathalize both of them and disapper. Also the other night I saw two BiB car's with their fogs on as well.

[XG332]

In regards to using the fog lights to see the edges of the roads, alot of german cars automaticaly turn on the inside light when a certain amount of lock is dialed in.