Idiots driving WITHOUT fog lights!!
Discussion
Driving down a foggy M5 with a number of dense patches, about 50% of the vehicles had fogs on and all were driving sensibly except one numpty in a SEAT Arosa who though it was totally acceptable to continue at 90-100 with only side lights on. Even if there was not much chance of anyone rear ending him, at those speeds entering a foggy patch he'd have no hope of stopping in time.
I only have rear fogs. Last night however it was so thick (about 10m visibility if that) and I had a long rural jaunt to complete so I basically cruised along with my hazard lights on.
When I finally hit the main road everyone was going along at ridiculous mph tailgating each other. No wonder we get bad accidents like we saw a few weeks ago.
When I finally hit the main road everyone was going along at ridiculous mph tailgating each other. No wonder we get bad accidents like we saw a few weeks ago.
pwrc said:
I only have rear fogs. Last night however it was so thick (about 10m visibility if that) and I had a long rural jaunt to complete so I basically cruised along with my hazard lights on.
Fog lights are for being seen, not seeingAnd driving with hazards on in the fog? Double dangerous, hazards are only to be used when stationary
Edited by ADEuk on Sunday 20th November 09:33
ADEuk said:
Fog lights are for being seen, not seeing
In which case I've been wondering over the last few days what the point of front fog lights is. It's certainly been foggy several times lately and there hasn't been a single car with front fogs where I've seen those lights before the main headlights - sometimes after in the case of xenon-equipped cars.Edited by ADEuk on Sunday 20th November 09:33
If front fogs are supposed to help the driver see better, again past experience tells me that this also just isn't the case. So what is the point of them?
24lemons said:
Driving down a foggy M5 with a number of dense patches, about 50% of the vehicles had fogs on and all were driving sensibly except one numpty in a SEAT Arosa who though it was totally acceptable to continue at 90-100 with only side lights on. Even if there was not much chance of anyone rear ending him, at those speeds entering a foggy patch he'd have no hope of stopping in time.
1.01 he THOUGHT he had his fogs on..CambsBill said:
In which case I've been wondering over the last few days what the point of front fog lights is. It's certainly been foggy several times lately and there hasn't been a single car with front fogs where I've seen those lights before the main headlights - sometimes after in the case of xenon-equipped cars.
If front fogs are supposed to help the driver see better, again past experience tells me that this also just isn't the case. So what is the point of them?
Because they look frikking cool bro!If front fogs are supposed to help the driver see better, again past experience tells me that this also just isn't the case. So what is the point of them?
CambsBill said:
If front fogs are supposed to help the driver see better, again past experience tells me that this also just isn't the case. So what is the point of them?
In certain situations in VERY dense fog, they can help, but you usually need turn your headlights off. You should probably never have them on at over about 10mph though, because if the fog is thin enough to drive that fast, they wont project far enough in front of you to help. attym3 said:
On the road this morning very foggy conditions and only about 50% have their fog lights on!! 
Also two cars with no lights on!!
What gives?
I'd be one of those idiots. I hate fog lights. i think they serve virtually no purpose whatsoever other than to allow people to drive faster in fog because they can see the vehicles further ahead than they otherwise would. Foglights shield the visual impact of brakelights, and they can dazzle and contribute to driver fatigue. I hate drivers who think 'it's foggy therefore I must put my foglights on' without any thought whatsover, such as 'I can see the vehicle in front and behind anyway, thus what do I need foglights for.Also two cars with no lights on!!
What gives?
Foglights get left on for days (weeks?) afterwards, and front foglights even get used by sad-sacks driving s
t cars 'cos they think the fogs somehow give them more 'presence'.The only time I ever felt I could do with rear foglights was one night on a road rally on a tiny single track lane, when we could see nothing at all. But then again, who was going to catch me up? Absolutely nobody, is the answer.
The one and only purpose that foglights actually serve imo is they highlight the numpties.
CambsBill said:
In which case I've been wondering over the last few days what the point of front fog lights is. It's certainly been foggy several times lately and there hasn't been a single car with front fogs where I've seen those lights before the main headlights - sometimes after in the case of xenon-equipped cars.
If front fogs are supposed to help the driver see better, again past experience tells me that this also just isn't the case. So what is the point of them?
They supposedly help you see better when in thick fog as they light up the lower area where the headlights arnt as strong. If front fogs are supposed to help the driver see better, again past experience tells me that this also just isn't the case. So what is the point of them?
kambites said:
CambsBill said:
If front fogs are supposed to help the driver see better, again past experience tells me that this also just isn't the case. So what is the point of them?
In certain situations in VERY dense fog, they can help, but you usually need turn your headlights off. You should probably never have them on at over about 10mph though, because if the fog is thin enough to drive that fast, they wont project far enough in front of you to help. I've played around with front fogs over the past decade or three, and not one of them has ever actually served any purpose whatosever. Our current car has 'turning' lights, which just makes us look like front-fog fkwits who can't afford a working pair, at the same time as making not one scrap of difference when turning a corner. 
kwits who can't afford a working pair, at the same time as making not one scrap of difference when turning a corner. I know the difference between frong foglamps and driving lamps has been debated ad infinitum (can't remember what the definition is to be honest), but both cars I have had with "front foglamps" have been angled down and to the sides.
I find them useful for late night driving on country lanes as it makes it very easy to see the edges of the road. It would be perfect if they were linked to main beam so you could toggle them on/off easily if another car was coming the other way.
That said, I can see that they might be useful in very heavy fog where you are having to travel at 10mph due to a wall of fog in front - they would hopefully illuminate the edge of the road.
I can't think of any reason to be using them if you are able to do 50mph+ on the motorway though!
I find them useful for late night driving on country lanes as it makes it very easy to see the edges of the road. It would be perfect if they were linked to main beam so you could toggle them on/off easily if another car was coming the other way.
That said, I can see that they might be useful in very heavy fog where you are having to travel at 10mph due to a wall of fog in front - they would hopefully illuminate the edge of the road.
I can't think of any reason to be using them if you are able to do 50mph+ on the motorway though!
Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Sunday 20th November 10:22
heebeegeetee said:
I hate drivers who think 'it's foggy therefore I must put my foglights on' without any thought whatsover, such as 'I can see the vehicle in front and behind anyway, thus what do I need foglights for.
Yes! Does my head in. Then they decide they should have them on in heavy rain too.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff