Fog Lights - a solution?
Discussion
Is anyone else driven mad by fog lights?
You know, the middle lane road hog you can see from a mile off by their insanely bright rear fog light.
I would welcome fog light cameras - if you are using fog lights when it isn't foggy, you get snapped and 6 points, and a 1,000 pound fine.
This would stop people driving what looks like the blackpool illuminations, and would convey the additional benefits of removing every BMW from the road within 3 months.
You know, the middle lane road hog you can see from a mile off by their insanely bright rear fog light.
I would welcome fog light cameras - if you are using fog lights when it isn't foggy, you get snapped and 6 points, and a 1,000 pound fine.
This would stop people driving what looks like the blackpool illuminations, and would convey the additional benefits of removing every BMW from the road within 3 months.
I agree it is rather annoying. However I don't think its top of the tree in terms of driving offences.
Also you'd have to make sure it's the fog lights which are on. I once was told by a trafpol to turn off my fog lights, when in actualy fact I'd left my full beams on by mistake. (I have full beam lights in my front bumper and the policeman thought these were my fog lights) Couldn't be arsed to argue with him, so just turned off my full beams and went on my merry way.
Darren
Also you'd have to make sure it's the fog lights which are on. I once was told by a trafpol to turn off my fog lights, when in actualy fact I'd left my full beams on by mistake. (I have full beam lights in my front bumper and the policeman thought these were my fog lights) Couldn't be arsed to argue with him, so just turned off my full beams and went on my merry way.
Darren
But if you can't tell if you are driving with fog lights on when it isn't foggy, or your main beam when you are in a built up area/oncoming traffic, then you either aren't aware of the highway code, or what your car is doing, or both.
I find being dazzled by said people a lot more dangerous than doing 10 mph over the limit to be honest.
I find being dazzled by said people a lot more dangerous than doing 10 mph over the limit to be honest.
Bingoid said:
I find being dazzled by said people a lot more dangerous than doing 10 mph over the limit to be honest.
I totally agree!
I've never switched my fog lights on without cause. I think everyone's not flicked their full beams down from time to time
But then I suppose you can get into the agrument on when "a suitable time" is to have your fogs switched on. Without consulting it, I believe the highway code states they should be on if visiblity drops to below ?500 yards?? (Please correct me if I'm wrong). You also get those who won't be able to judge that distance.
From the other side of the coin, I've seen my fair share of peopl who don't switch them on when required! :baghead:
Darren
the ergonomics of some cars are awful, and the front/rear fog light switches and their warning lights are often tucked away on the side of the dash or behind the steering wheel, where they dont get your attention.
it should be compulsory for there to be warning light in the centre of the instrument cluster sayin front or rear fog light, not just some symbol which a lot of people have no idea means.
it should be compulsory for there to be warning light in the centre of the instrument cluster sayin front or rear fog light, not just some symbol which a lot of people have no idea means.
Bingoid said:
Is anyone else driven mad by fog lights?
You know, the middle lane road hog you can see from a mile off by their insanely bright rear fog light.
I would welcome fog light cameras - if you are using fog lights when it isn't foggy, you get snapped and 6 points, and a 1,000 pound fine.
This would stop people driving what looks like the blackpool illuminations, and would convey the additional benefits of removing every BMW from the road within 3 months.
You know, the middle lane road hog you can see from a mile off by their insanely bright rear fog light.
I would welcome fog light cameras - if you are using fog lights when it isn't foggy, you get snapped and 6 points, and a 1,000 pound fine.
This would stop people driving what looks like the blackpool illuminations, and would convey the additional benefits of removing every BMW from the road within 3 months.
I find that it is normally the younger generation of 'sport' car drivers that use fog lights rather than the BMW drivers of this world!
allaway said:
Vauxhall has the perfect solution. Each time you switch off headlights then fog lights are cancelled as well. Switch lights back on- no fog lights. Mate got fined £40 for having front fog lights on when no fog. It is an offence to dazzle other road users.
Shouldn't front fogs not dazzle though, as they light the floor (hence why full beam in fog is bad)?
iluvmercs said:
Without consulting it, I believe the highway code states they should be on if visiblity drops to below ?500 yards?? (Please correct me if I'm wrong). You also get those who won't be able to judge that distance.
It's 100 metres. HC201 & 211
That's the distance between motorway marker posts (white posts with blue/red marking along the edge of the hard shoulder).
Or about 3 seconds gap @ 70 mph.
allaway said:
Vauxhall has the perfect solution.
Mercedes has been doing this for many years. The fogs are switched on by pulling outwards on the main light switch. Pull out one notch for your front fogs, and two notches for the rears. Once you've pullout the second notch, an orange light turns on in the centre of the lights switch. When you switch off the lights, the fog lights cancel. This also means you cannot turn on the fog lights without - at least - the sidelights being on. A good system, I have to say! And they still use the same system today!
Vaux said:
iluvmercs said:
Without consulting it, I believe the highway code states they should be on if visiblity drops to below ?500 yards?? (Please correct me if I'm wrong). You also get those who won't be able to judge that distance.
It's 100 metres. HC201 & 211
That's the distance between motorway marker posts (white posts with blue/red marking along the edge of the hard shoulder).
Or about 3 seconds gap @ 70 mph.
Thanks for that. I didn't think I was right! 
Darren
Edited by iluvmercs on Friday 24th November 20:31
It's worth bearing in mind that the choice to illuminate rear fogs isn't just about the visibility but about other traffic. You can illuminate them when there is nothing behind so that approaching vehicles can see you, and then when they are following, you can turn them off again to avoid dazzling.
I had an interesting experience two weeks ago. On the way home a transit pulled out in front of me causing me to slam on, but he also had rear foglights on. It was drizzling with rain and the windscreen was unusually greasy so I could hardly see any thing past the red glow. I flashed this guy and it was like lighting the touch paper. He slammed on his brakes and started flashing his fog lights furiously. For a couple of miles in slow moving traffic. He then pulled over at a local shop. Put my foot down dropped the missus off with her car..........jumped in my car and went to confront the guy.
Fortunately(probably for me) by the time I got there he'd gone but yes it does annoy me!!
Fortunately(probably for me) by the time I got there he'd gone but yes it does annoy me!!
I will admit that when driving at night down dark country lanes, i will, on occasion, use my front fogs as they provide a much wider beam spread, but as soon as i come up behind trafic, i will turn them off.
Rarely use the rear fogs, unless there is good reason to and switched off as soon as is safe to do so
Rarely use the rear fogs, unless there is good reason to and switched off as soon as is safe to do so
What is the issue here. to really state this is absurd!
Fog lights, high beams, dipped beam, there all lights availiable to the driver. It should not be a mathematical judge of distance or a telephone to the met office to conclude what lights would be apt in the situation. It must be at any given point for a driver to be concerned with the road ahead. Not what lights he has on. It should be for a driver to conclude from the situation or personal judgement what lights to have on
I mean really is it that much of a problem?
Foglights are kewl
Fog lights, high beams, dipped beam, there all lights availiable to the driver. It should not be a mathematical judge of distance or a telephone to the met office to conclude what lights would be apt in the situation. It must be at any given point for a driver to be concerned with the road ahead. Not what lights he has on. It should be for a driver to conclude from the situation or personal judgement what lights to have on
I mean really is it that much of a problem?
Foglights are kewl
bi9_jk said:
It should be for a driver to conclude from the situation or personal judgement what lights to have on
Fine, as long as he's complying with the law/highway code.
bi9_jk said:
I mean really is it that much of a problem?
Not in the grand scheme of things but following a rear fog light abuser, or having front fog man driving towards you with a wet road can be very dazzling.
bi9_jk said:
Foglights are kewl
Are they? I thought they were simply lamps for use in conditions where fog had reduced visibility below 100m. Silly me eh.
er has them on during the day here. Even in adverse weather (ie fog) I get a huge attack of guilt and chav like feeling when I put them on. Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff