fog lights

Duke · 28 Feb 2006 at 18:50

I think it winds people up (me too, but only a little) because it's such an easy thing to correct.. bit like people who don't indicate etc.. a constant small irritation when driving which we could all do without

HAz · 28 Feb 2006 at 18:50

I saw a fire engine with it's fogs one once....

But yeah, they seriously wind me up. Fools with foglights on.

Parasites of the roads.

wez130 · 28 Feb 2006 at 18:57

it annoys me a lot, i usually send a 'friendly' reminder and give a flash of my fog lights to let them know, however, one time i was coming out of the village where i work so put my fog lights on and it only shows they are on on the switch next to my ignition, anyway coming into town, it was still slightly foggy but not enough to warrant foglights and i got pulled over for it

, got a warning.

Vertigo · 28 Feb 2006 at 19:09

Mic said:
My focus told me when they where on, not on the dask, but where you turn them on. It would seem to me that it would kinda hard to accidentally turn on the fog lights, as you have to pull the switch out.

Moreover, the switch would only pull out when the side or headlights are on and you then couldn't turn the side or headlights off without pushing the switch back in, so it was impossible to leave the fogs on without also turning off the main lights and you'd get the warning tone if you did this so there's no excuse for leaving them on accidentally.

My current car has the same design and it's a good one imo.

NickXX · 28 Feb 2006 at 19:13

They're not actually that annoying. I have been thinking about this over the last few days. It used to annoy me a LOT, not because they dazzle me - because I don't find that they ever do.

I think it irritated me because I thought that drivers turned them on due to their sheer arrogance. However, this probably isn't true in the vast majority of cases - but rather due to ignorance. I have front foglights on my car, I don't use them as it doesn't seem to make the blind bit of difference driving with them on in 99% of weather conditions.

So I've decided to given up caring, because it doesn't actually affect you - they DON'T dazzle you. Badly aligned lights will dazzle you a LOT more. I will however add that rear fog lights are a PITA when used incorrectly, and drivers who drive around with rear fogs on are simply a nuisance to the roads.

iCraig · 28 Feb 2006 at 19:31

Far worse problems on the road than mis-use of fog lights.

MrMatteh · 28 Feb 2006 at 20:04

iCraig said:
Far worse problems on the road than mis-use of fog lights.

yes, and the third-world crises makes 'driving problems' look pale.

what a silly argument.

you can always compare something to a bigger problem.

NickXX · 28 Feb 2006 at 20:10

MrMatteh said:
yes, and the third-world crises makes 'driving problems' look pale.

what a silly argument.

you can always compare something to a bigger problem.

He has a point though - how are front fog lights a problem?

Sputnik II · 28 Feb 2006 at 20:39

I'd be very surprised if they could fine you for using front fogs and if they did it to me I'd be going to court and appeal, simply because they meet all the normal criteria for lighting.

Only white lights to the front of vehicle
same wattage or less than a normal dipped headlamp
very short beam cut off point, low wide beam

Going on these factors theres not much difference between front fogs and dipped beam headlamps.
I find people with headlamps that are badly aligned more annoying.

Usher · 28 Feb 2006 at 20:45

Sputnik II said:
I'd be very surprised if they could fine you for using front fogs and if they did it to me I'd be going to court and appeal, simply because they meet all the normal criteria for lighting.

Only white lights to the front of vehicle

same wattage or less than a normal dipped headlamp

very short beam cut off point, low wide beam

Going on these factors theres not much difference between front fogs and dipped beam headlamps.
I find people with headlamps that are badly aligned more annoying.

Whilst your sitting waiting to go to into court , read the highway code lol

DannyDan · 28 Feb 2006 at 20:52

NickXX said:
He has a point though - how are front fog lights a problem?

Agreed. They don't bother me in the slightest.

willd58 · 28 Feb 2006 at 20:54

I love my fogs, they make the general motorist think your an aggresive driver and it effects the way ppl treat you on the road, well, this is what iv found. Im pretty positive it isnt a placebo effect. Ok, to some i might look like a right chavvy ****** but if it means i can get in/across easier and more ppl let me out of junctions, then im all for them. There not blinding in anyway, so for anyone who tells me im blinding you, your putting all fogs under the same heading and that just aint right.

MNuTz · 28 Feb 2006 at 21:03

Its not the fact that fogs are on thats the problem, its more to do with the angling/brightness of them.

Several friends of mine have theirs on but its not a problem as they have angled them down (something i cant do on my car so i dont have them on). You do get several people whos fogs seem to point right in your face!! ARGH!

MNuTz · 28 Feb 2006 at 21:06

Sputnik II said:
I'd be very surprised if they could fine you for using front fogs and if they did it to me I'd be going to court and appeal, simply because they meet all the normal criteria for lighting.

Only white lights to the front of vehicle

same wattage or less than a normal dipped headlamp

very short beam cut off point, low wide beam

Going on these factors theres not much difference between front fogs and dipped beam headlamps.
I find people with headlamps that are badly aligned more annoying.

A lad in town just 2 days ago was fined £40 for having his fogs on. Legally your fog lights can only be on when a) its foggy and b) when your main lights are on full.

In the case of B, your fog lights must be turned off when your main beams are dipped!

Sputnik II · 28 Feb 2006 at 21:21

MNuTz said:
your fog lights must be turned off when your main beams are dipped!

That doesn't actually make sense. Do you mean when your headlamps are on main or dipped beam ?

usher said:
Whilst your sitting waiting to go to into court , read the highway code lol

Well, your right. That is a new thing in the highway code. In my copy which is a few years old it only mentions rear fog lights! I stand corrected.

Phantom · 28 Feb 2006 at 21:54

lukechad said:
I was annoyed yesterday, a saw an Audi A3 with his fogs on, i gave him a quick blip of full beam, he just looked at me and smiled at me, he knew full well what I was doing it for.

he probably thought you were acknowledging that he had a cool motor!

better that the front fog lights are on than the rear one.. .thats far more dazzling to the driver

Meridian · 28 Feb 2006 at 22:32

willd58 said:
I love my fogs, they make the general motorist think your an aggresive driver and it effects the way ppl treat you on the road, well, this is what iv found. Im pretty positive it isnt a placebo effect. Ok, to some i might look like a right chavvy ****** but if it means i can get in/across easier and more ppl let me out of junctions, then im all for them. There not blinding in anyway, so for anyone who tells me im blinding you, your putting all fogs under the same heading and that just aint right.

They're getting out of your way because they think you're an idiot because you have your fogs on without reason, and just want to be no-where near you!

Not an issue for me 'cos I don't have front fogs, just a blue plastic cover with some letters on them.

M

lordrobs · 28 Feb 2006 at 22:52

Enfield said:
When I had my 205, i used to flash all the people with them on. It had driving lights with some rather nice 100w bulbs and some 100w bulbs in the main headlamp for fullbeam

So to get back at people misusing their lights you blind them with your illegal ones :confused:

hmmm... who exactly is more in the wrong here?!

andi · 28 Feb 2006 at 23:00

Sputnik II said:
I'd be very surprised if they could fine you for using front fogs and if they did it to me I'd be going to court and appeal, simply because they meet all the normal criteria for lighting.

Only white lights to the front of vehicle

same wattage or less than a normal dipped headlamp

very short beam cut off point, low wide beam

Going on these factors theres not much difference between front fogs and dipped beam headlamps.
I find people with headlamps that are badly aligned more annoying.

You won't get very far.

No person shall use cause or permit to be used, on a road any vehicle on which any lamp, hazard warning signal device or warning beacon of a type specified below is used in the manner so specified.

(2) Front fog lamp

(a) used so as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other persons using the road;
(b) used so as to be lit at any time other than in conditions of seriously reduced visibility;
(c) used so as to be lit when a vehicle is parked.

NickXX · 28 Feb 2006 at 23:03

Right, we've now established that people who use Fog lights in the wrong conditions are in the wrong, people who flash these offenders are also in the wrong.

The irony is that the moral high ground lies with those who don't use their fog lights and who don't give a ****.