Lights - Fog/Driving Lamps

[Kinga]

Could you explain, there appears to be a growing number of motorists using side lights and front fog/driving lamps in normal conditions. These are safety accessories and not a fashion item, in poor visibility you should have your headlights on and in extreme conditions your fog lights. Improper use of fog lights is a motoring offence (£60 + points). If your fog lights contribute towards an accident it will make your insurance null & void!

is it worth it

 

[Guy]

Lights

Advertising - look at

http://www.supercars.net/Pic?s=1&am...amp;y=2001&m=Mercedes-Benz&o=C 32 AMG

for an example of the way manufacturers ( in this case MB) emphasise the car's stance by using the front fogs.
There are many other examples, from Audi, BMW etc.

If they are properly set, they should not dazzle - the whole point is a very low cut off to avoid reflecting fog, rain, sleet and snow back at the driver.
But you are right, use in good weather is an offence under the Construction & Use Regulations.

Is it more annoying than some of the daft number plates people create with weird spacing and black dots?

Guy

 

[Andy]

Lights

I don't know about front fog lamps causing a problem. The rear ones do. I have always thought the way MB designed the light switch so the fog lamps always are switched off when the lights are switched off is great. So in the summer evenings you are not dazzled by somebody who has forgotten to switch the rear fog lamp off after going through a bit of heavy drizzle.

Sorry for the moan, but don't you just hate those people?!?!?!?

Regards
Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[Matt Crooke]

Lights

Its a bot of a vague subject this i think, reason is, i live about 10 miles from Southend on sea in Essex, the car posing capital of the South East! On a friday night the place is gridlocked with teenagers in their Nova's and Fiesta's driving round and round with the sidelights on, and the underbumber fog/driving lights on as well, purely for the look as is mentioned above. The sticking point is, i was in my friends Cavalier SRi a few years back, and yes, we were doing exactly the same thing im ashamed to say, when we were pulled over for having the side/fog combination on. However the officer was unable to charge my friend because it clearly stated in the handbook (which he always carried around for this very reason) that these lights were called 'Driving lamps' and not fog lamps. The officer could not charge my mate for driving with driving lamps on, because this is exactly what the book said they were for.!!!! Naturally if the book had said they were called fog lamps he would have been stung with the fine mentioned above. I drive a 190e and i cant remember what they are named as in the handbook. Ill have to have a look when i get home tonight! I must admit though seeing a car with them switched on when its not foggy has never really blinded me or caused any problems.

 

[dave elcome]

Lights

I have got to have my say on this subject. The trend to drive around on fog lights and side lights is a particular hate of mine, and all of my work collegues.

When used for the correct reason, they are a useful addition, but I can't see that one could ever class driving round town, or travelling at 70mph on the motorway as being the correct reason! after all if you can see to do 70mph, why do you need fog lights??

I feel i must add 3 more things.

1) The fine will not cost £60, only a mere £30, and no points!
2) Using fog lights in the manner mentioned is nothing to do with the "Construction and use" regs, that relates to the fitment, not use.
3)I am a Traffic Police officer, and as stated above, this is my pet hate!!

 

[simon]

Lights

I am with you Dave & Andy, both cases extremely irritating.

Ernest

 

[Koolvin]

Lights

EEEEEK

 

[fuzzer]

Lights

There is nothing wrong with black dots on number plates or weird spacing  !! What diference does it  make anyway !!!!

 

[iqmalik]

Lights

Would it be legal to use front and rear fog lights when there is severe drizzle or when it is snowing especially on a motorway?  I usually switch on my rear fog lights in heavy rain so that I don't have anyone so close to my rear

 

[Koolvin]

Lights

Quote: from iqmalik on 12:53 am on Feb. 27, 2002
Would it be legal to use front and rear fog lights when there is severe drizzle or when it is snowing especially on a motorway?  I usually switch on my rear fog lights in heavy rain so that I don't have anyone so close to my rear

dunno depends on the cops really! you must never use your rear fogs in rain though

 

[Matt Crooke]

Lights

Why cant you use fogs in the rain, when visibility is pants then?

 

[fuzzer]

Lights

The term fog lights is misleading . The poor visibility lights are to be used when visibility drops below a certain distance. Ill look out my highway code and post the figure online .

 

[Shude]

Lights

IIRC the highway code states something typically vague, like "only for use during fog or falling snow".

no-one ever stopped to define "fog" though.

 

[fuzzer]

Lights

IT kinda reminds me of the stopping distances quoted in the highway code . WIth brake assist or even without , you need a fish slice to remove yourself from the windscreen if you hit the pedal.

 

[Koolvin]

Lights

Quote: from Matt Crooke on 12:17 pm on Feb. 27, 2002
Why cant you use fogs in the rain, when visibility is pants then?

i saod REAR foggys in the rain, as when its raining you wont notice the cars brakelights coming on

 

[Shude]

Lights

Maybe I'm wrong, but rear foglights should only be used when you can't see the headlights of the car behind.  At the point when you *can* see their headlights in your rear view mirror you should turn the rear fogs off to avoid blinding (or annoying) the driver of the car behind.

It's maybe not law, but it's good etiquette if nothing else .

 

[fuzzer]

Lights

But , on the rear of a mercedes there is only one fog light , thus when a driver brakes it will look a lot diferent.

 

[Matt Crooke]

Lights

I never bought that "because they will get confused with the brake lights" speech. Poor visibility is the same whether its fog, snow, sleet, rain or whatever its a nightmare to see in all of them.