Side/fog lights at night, no headlights????
Discussion
Thanks, tvrgit.
In the context of the thread it is appropriate to quote also from s.25(2).
For completeness as regards 'restricted roads'.
Streaky
In the context of the thread it is appropriate to quote also from s.25(2).
Motor Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 - Requirements about the use of headlamps and front fog lamps said:
25.—(2) The provisions of paragraph (1) do not apply–
(b) in the case of a motor vehicle, other than a solo motor bicycle or motor bicycle combination, fitted with a pair of obligatory dipped-beam headlamps, if–
(i) a pair of main-beam headlamps is kept lit; or
(ii) in seriously reduced visibility, a pair of front fog lamps which is so fitted that the outermost part of the illuminated area of each lamp in the pair is not more than 400 mm from the outer edge of the vehicle is kept lit;
[Noting the "serious reduced visibility" requirement.](b) in the case of a motor vehicle, other than a solo motor bicycle or motor bicycle combination, fitted with a pair of obligatory dipped-beam headlamps, if–
(i) a pair of main-beam headlamps is kept lit; or
(ii) in seriously reduced visibility, a pair of front fog lamps which is so fitted that the outermost part of the illuminated area of each lamp in the pair is not more than 400 mm from the outer edge of the vehicle is kept lit;
For completeness as regards 'restricted roads'.
Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 - 82 What roads are restricted roads said:
(1) Subject to the provisions of this section and of section 84(3) of this Act, a road is a restricted road for the purposes of section 81 of this Act if —
(a) in England and Wales, there is provided on it a system of street lighting furnished by means of lamps placed not more than 200 yards apart;
(b) in Scotland, there is provided on it a system of carriageway lighting furnished by means of lamps placed not more than 185 metres apart and the road is of a classification or type specified for the purposes of this subsection in regulations made by the Secretary of State.
(a) in England and Wales, there is provided on it a system of street lighting furnished by means of lamps placed not more than 200 yards apart;
(b) in Scotland, there is provided on it a system of carriageway lighting furnished by means of lamps placed not more than 185 metres apart and the road is of a classification or type specified for the purposes of this subsection in regulations made by the Secretary of State.
Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 - 81 General speed limit for restricted roads said:
(1) It shall not be lawful for a person to drive a motor vehicle on a restricted road at a speed exceeding 30 miles per hour.
HC113 could benefit from some rewording.Streaky
Well I guess that clears up my original point about plod not having a word with the car next to them (even though they had fogs on, probably had better things to do) as it was a 30 zone, although it was in a small village and I doubt said car with side lights just flicked them on just for the 200 yards of 30 zone!
I think I may have discovered why many people use front fog lights rather than dipped headlights...
Pulling into a fuel station I noticed a vehicle with it's front fogs illuminated and I enquired of the driver if he actually knew they were on...his reply?
"Yeah thanks I know they're on but both headlight bulbs have gone and I can't get my hand in to replace them"
So people there we have it...it's all the fault of the car manufacturers for not leaving enough clearance to swap out blown headlamp bulbs!
Pulling into a fuel station I noticed a vehicle with it's front fogs illuminated and I enquired of the driver if he actually knew they were on...his reply?
"Yeah thanks I know they're on but both headlight bulbs have gone and I can't get my hand in to replace them"
So people there we have it...it's all the fault of the car manufacturers for not leaving enough clearance to swap out blown headlamp bulbs!
Tuscan Rat said:
This is why I love PH...a while back I came on here and mentioned that I had, had a blitz on fog lights in Tooting High street and got a right slagging, given the usual have the Police not got anything better to do rant !!!!
No matter what you do someone on PH will disagree!I think police should have a crack down on people with fogs on and I'm sure they'll find a lot of other infringements with the type of people they stop. Saying that I won't slag off plod for not stopping someone as I'm sure they have to prioritise what they spend they're time on and I'd much prefer them to be catching violent criminals than p
s who have to drive everywhere in a blaze of light!
simoid said:
As I said earlier, there's no chance I'm driving around in a small, black car with just sidelights on!
Interestingly enough, sidelights are normally just as bright as tail lights and nobody complains about not being able to spot them. The only reason they are more difficult to spot is the large number of cars using dipped-beams (or fog lights!) affecting your night vision and "drowning out" the dimmer lights. We'd actually be better off if we gave up the "I'm brighter than you" arms race and went back to doing what the law allows and using nothing but sidelights but the chances of that happening are between slim and none.
Mr Will said:
Interestingly enough, sidelights are normally just as bright as tail lights and nobody complains about not being able to spot them.
The only reason they are more difficult to spot is the large number of cars using dipped-beams (or fog lights!) affecting your night vision and "drowning out" the dimmer lights. We'd actually be better off if we gave up the "I'm brighter than you" arms race and went back to doing what the law allows and using nothing but sidelights but the chances of that happening are between slim and none.
Agreed sidelights are fine for cities but can you imagine driving around the countryside/small towns and having to alternate between sides, dipped headlights and full beam? Considering a large number of people seem to struggle with lights on or off at appropriate times another option would just cause way too much confusion!The only reason they are more difficult to spot is the large number of cars using dipped-beams (or fog lights!) affecting your night vision and "drowning out" the dimmer lights. We'd actually be better off if we gave up the "I'm brighter than you" arms race and went back to doing what the law allows and using nothing but sidelights but the chances of that happening are between slim and none.
Mr Will said:
Interestingly enough, sidelights are normally just as bright as tail lights and nobody complains about not being able to spot them.
The only reason they are more difficult to spot is the large number of cars using dipped-beams (or fog lights!) affecting your night vision and "drowning out" the dimmer lights. We'd actually be better off if we gave up the "I'm brighter than you" arms race and went back to doing what the law allows and using nothing but sidelights but the chances of that happening are between slim and none.
I should declare that I'm equipped with xenon headlights and I live in a fairly large village/small town The only reason they are more difficult to spot is the large number of cars using dipped-beams (or fog lights!) affecting your night vision and "drowning out" the dimmer lights. We'd actually be better off if we gave up the "I'm brighter than you" arms race and went back to doing what the law allows and using nothing but sidelights but the chances of that happening are between slim and none.
simoid said:
Mr Will said:
Interestingly enough, sidelights are normally just as bright as tail lights and nobody complains about not being able to spot them.
The only reason they are more difficult to spot is the large number of cars using dipped-beams (or fog lights!) affecting your night vision and "drowning out" the dimmer lights. We'd actually be better off if we gave up the "I'm brighter than you" arms race and went back to doing what the law allows and using nothing but sidelights but the chances of that happening are between slim and none.
I should declare that I'm equipped with xenon headlights ... The only reason they are more difficult to spot is the large number of cars using dipped-beams (or fog lights!) affecting your night vision and "drowning out" the dimmer lights. We'd actually be better off if we gave up the "I'm brighter than you" arms race and went back to doing what the law allows and using nothing but sidelights but the chances of that happening are between slim and none.
Streaky
I had to drive home last night through town because BOTH bulbs had gone on the same day (!)
Ok when lots of other cars were about (and not flashing me) but when I got nearer home on quieter roads it was hard to see kerbs etc, there's a few 'traffic calming' things near my house, I just put mains on for a bit when there was no-one there
Ok when lots of other cars were about (and not flashing me) but when I got nearer home on quieter roads it was hard to see kerbs etc, there's a few 'traffic calming' things near my house, I just put mains on for a bit when there was no-one there
Maybe some of you are not old enough to remember how bad fog (or 'smog') could be years ago. The whole point of foglights is that even dipped headlights cannot be used in seriously reduced visibility because the light reflects back off the water droplets and you can't see anything. Foglights are mounted low down and show the edge of the road when you are only able to drive at a crawl. But you remain visible to oncoming vehicles even though you don't have headlights on. If you can drive at over about 15mph using dipped headlights then you don't need foglights on. A car that cannot switch off headlights when using front foglights is incorrectly wired. I fitted a front and a rear foglight with separate switches on my Morris Minor because with headlights off you will otherwise have no rear lights on. Drivers who routinely drive with extra lights on are actually making the roads less safe due to the increased dazzle caused to oncoming road users. They are also reducing their own visibility of the road further ahead, not increasing it, because the higher light level immediately in front of their car will make the pupil of the eyes become smaller.
Big E 118 said:
Tuscan Rat said:
This is why I love PH...a while back I came on here and mentioned that I had, had a blitz on fog lights in Tooting High street and got a right slagging, given the usual have the Police not got anything better to do rant !!!!
No matter what you do someone on PH will disagree!notapetrolhead said:
A car that cannot switch off headlights when using front foglights is incorrectly wired.
1. You do realise you have restarted a nearly 13 year old thread, don't you?2. You are wrong there also, the great vast majority of cars will turn off fog lights as soon as you turn off your headlights.
E-bmw said:
notapetrolhead said:
A car that cannot switch off headlights when using front foglights is incorrectly wired.
1. You do realise you have restarted a nearly 13 year old thread, don't you?2. You are wrong there also, the great vast majority of cars will turn off fog lights as soon as you turn off your headlights.
Tsippy said:
fking annoying aren't they? It's nice to blind them back with a combo of main beam and spot lights though..... the selfish tttish fking fktards 
Yours and other posts make absolutely no senseking annoying aren't they? It's nice to blind them back with a combo of main beam and spot lights though..... the selfish tttish fking fktards Side lights don't blind you and fog lights don't either
They're specifically designed to be low and have a low, sharp cut off, unless you are 12" tall you aren't being blinded by them
J__Wood said:
Big E 118 said:
Tuscan Rat said:
This is why I love PH...a while back I came on here and mentioned that I had, had a blitz on fog lights in Tooting High street and got a right slagging, given the usual have the Police not got anything better to do rant !!!!
No matter what you do someone on PH will disagree!Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff