Side/fog lights at night, no headlights????

[Big E 118]

I've noticed there seems to be quite a few cars that drive at night with a side light/fog light combo on, no headlights.

Is this the old "fog light all the time" brigade trying to stand out now that 50% of the population have fog lights on?

Interestingly I was stuck in a traffic jam the other day behind a police car, there was a car coming the other way without headlights (about 10pm) and just fogs on, it stopped right next to the police car and I was expecting to see the cops window go down and have a word, nothing!

I'm presuming you legally have to have headlights on at night, not just any lights?

[BO55 VXR]

I just hate people who have fog lights on (back or front) in the clear light of day.... :@///

[jonstable]

Under streetlights at night, you only have to have sidelights on. Obviously not foglights though under normal conditions.

[Big E 118]

jonstable said:

Under streetlights at night, you only have to have sidelights on. Obviously not foglights though under normal conditions.

Didn't know that, always assumed you would have to have your headlights on when dark.

Does that include lit motorways?

[Knock_knock]

Big E 118 said:

Didn't know that, always assumed you would have to have your headlights on when dark.

Does that include lit motorways?

This is only intended for built-up areas subject to a 30 limit or less.

KK

Highway Code said:

Lighting requirements (113-116)

Rule 113

You MUST

• ensure all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise
• use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) unless otherwise specified
• use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226)

Night (the hours of darkness) is defined as the period between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise).

[Tsippy]

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

[Big E 118]

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

Ha! You've noticed them as well then.

Anyone know why though? If I'm going out at night I wouldn't think, ah it's dark so I'll just put on my fog lights and then my side lights instead of just flicking on my headlights.....

[BO55 VXR]

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

[Deva Link]

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

They like you doing this though, because it gives them the attention they crave.

Anyway, now we have DRLs they're as bright on some cars as front fogs.

[Durzel]

Yeah seeing DRLs on everything now and they're certainly bright.

Can someone explain to an idiot (me) what the general point of DRLs are? If you can't see the car they're attached to in broad daylight you've got bigger problems really.

[simoid]

Highway Code said:

nothing about needing headlights in streetlit areas over 30 mph limits - only that streetlit areas are 30 limits unless stated.

No?

I always have my headlights on when it's not daylight.

If I disagree with the way a car is lit, I'll give them a flash of my beams so they hopefully think about the appropriate use of their lights. (eg if it's dark/rainy and too few lights, or visibility of >100 yards and using foglights illegally.)

[streaky]

HC113 states: "use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) unless otherwise specified.

A valid interpretation of that would seem to be that where there is street lighting and a signed limit greater than 30, the use of headlights is not obligated.

Streaky

[Big E 118]

streaky said:

HC113 states: "use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) unless otherwise specified.

A valid interpretation of that would seem to be that where there is street lighting and a signed limit greater than 30, the use of headlights is not obligated.

Streaky

So as above, on a lit motorway at night you are only legally required to have sidelights on as it doesn't state otherwise?

Considering most other traffic would have headlights on it would be pretty easy to miss a car in your rear view mirror that only had sidelights on, especially in reduced visibility (rain etc.)

[Tsippy]

Deva Link said:

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

They like you doing this though, because it gives them the attention they crave.

Anyway, now we have DRLs they're as bright on some cars as front fogs.

I'm not so sure, I think my spotlights operate like laser-eye surgery on a massive scale

[Landshark]

Big E 118 said:

streaky said:

HC113 states: "use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) unless otherwise specified.

A valid interpretation of that would seem to be that where there is street lighting and a signed limit greater than 30, the use of headlights is not obligated.

Streaky

So as above, on a lit motorway at night you are only legally required to have sidelights on as it doesn't state otherwise?

Considering most other traffic would have headlights on it would be pretty easy to miss a car in your rear view mirror that only had sidelights on, especially in reduced visibility (rain etc.)

no, the only roads (unless stated) that you don't need headlights (you would need sidelights) is a lit thirty limit (a restricted road). So on a lit motorway you need headlights during the hours of darkness.

[simoid]

Landshark said:

Big E 118 said:

streaky said:

HC113 states: "use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) unless otherwise specified.

A valid interpretation of that would seem to be that where there is street lighting and a signed limit greater than 30, the use of headlights is not obligated.

Streaky

So as above, on a lit motorway at night you are only legally required to have sidelights on as it doesn't state otherwise?

Considering most other traffic would have headlights on it would be pretty easy to miss a car in your rear view mirror that only had sidelights on, especially in reduced visibility (rain etc.)

no, the only roads (unless stated) that you don't need headlights (you would need sidelights) is a lit thirty limit (a restricted road). So on a lit motorway you need headlights during the hours of darkness.

Source?

[SVTRick]

If you need additional lights to turn a corner then the time has come to give up driving full stop

Rear fog lights should default to off every time you turn off engine, or lights,
or use main beam.
A large red light should be illumated on the dash all the time rear fogs are on.
Same should apply to front fog lights.

[Flintstone]

SVTRick said:

If you need additional lights to turn a corner then the time has come to give up driving full stop

I don't drive a full stop. The Mitsubishi Punctuation looks quite good though

[tvrgit]

simoid said:

Landshark said:

no, the only roads (unless stated) that you don't need headlights (you would need sidelights) is a lit thirty limit (a restricted road). So on a lit motorway you need headlights during the hours of darkness.

Source?

Road Vehile Lighting Regulations 1989.

Section 24 says that sidelights must be used at night if the vehicle is in motion (and even if it's not, in some circumstances)

Section 25 said:

"25.—(1) Save as provided in paragraph (2), no person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road a vehicle which is fitted with obligatory dipped-beam headlamps unless every such lamp is kept lit–

(a)during the hours of darkness, except on a road which is a restricted road for the purposes of section 81 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 by virtue of a system of street lighting when it is lit; and

(b)in seriously reduced visibility.

So if your vehicle has dipped beam headights fitted, you have to use them at night, unless on a restricted road (ie 30mph with a system of street lighting) - everywhere else, you need dip beam.

You don't need dip beam on a resticted road - but you do need sidelights under section 24.

The Highway Code summarises the law - the regulations are the law. Driving on side lights in 30mph built up areas might not be very clever, but it's legal.

[simoid]

tvrgit said:

You don't need dip beam on a resticted road - but you do need sidelights under section 24.

The Highway Code summarises the law - the regulations are the law.

Gotcha

Perhaps a case for rewording of the HC there; I read it to be 'you don't need dipped beams if there are streetlights (and by the way, you'll probably be in a 30 limit)'.

As I said earlier, there's no chance I'm driving around in a small, black car with just sidelights on!