Fog Lights- On or Off?

[Beaker]

Picture this....

Its a perfectly clear day/night someone behind you has their fog lights on. Do you find it annoying or not?

I personally do, not to mention it is illegal. If visibility is good there is no reason to have them on.

[D87 SMW]

Originally posted by Skatiechik
If visibility is good there is no reason to have them on.

When they come to use them properly in the fog/dark, they'll have burnt out. :D :laugh:

:toothy: :shoot:

[Dave]

I quite often have mine on. They illuminate the verges very close to the front of the car, something that normal headlights do not do - they saved me hitting a massive badger once... it would have been a bad day for the badger and for the car.

Dave.

[E_T_V]

I also use mine at night, but treat them as I would main beam lights in that I turn them off when another car is infront or coming the other way.


People coming the other way with their fog lights on get a flash or two of my fog lights then if they still refuse to turn them off get my full beam and driving lights to re-inforce the message.

[H48HPE]

driving lights illuminate the area infront of the car, I do get a bit annoyed with main beam headlights but driving lamps are not that bad. if one of them is behind me with them on which I do agree is pointlss, i would tend to switch my back fog lights on to get the message accross as they are very annoying in the rear view mirrors. people coming towards me I dont find too iritating.

Andy

[F690OTF(RIP)]

Is there any distinction (in power output or angle of incidence, maybe), official or otherwise, between driving lamps and front fog lamps?

[Dave]

Fog lights should be mounted low and generally have a very wide flat beam, driving lights have a general pool of additional light to improve the visibility.

[H536NOG]

Very norty :nonono:
I find it very annoying seeing prats driving around with fog lights on when it isnt foggy, the newer generation of lights (headlights & foglights) tend to dazzle & distract oncoming motorists (not just car drivers, I drive an articulated lorry for a living & get dazzled whilst driving that too).
I have factory fitted foglights in the front bumper of the Laguna... they get used ONLY if its really foggy, added to that I do not use the rear high intensity unless its really soupy, yet again fog lights do dazzle.
Lighting up the gutter is not a valid reason...you should be looking where you are going not in the gutter (if you think car headlights are poor I suggest you try lorry headlights, they are at least 20 years behind in technology)
rant over :banghead:

[H48HPE]

Its this sort of discussion that gives maestro owners a bad name,

Lighting up the gutter is not a valid reason...you should be looking where you are going not in the gutter (if you think car headlights are poor I suggest you try lorry headlights, they are at least 20 years behind in technology)

maestro headlights were designed over 20 years ago;)

Dave looking in the gutter saved a badger and also his front bumper, if it helps someone drive better so what if they want to look in the gutter/ verge.

Andy

[Jonathan]

I find the front fogs on my 800 make hardly any difference under normal conditions? In fact I've only felt the need to use them on a couple of occasions over the last year or so, otherwise it's just main beam and/or reduced speed at night.

It is an offence to use fog lamps when visibility is beyond 100 metres.

[H536NOG]

This is in the 'off topic' section & has absolutely no bearing on Maestro owners (or any other marque), it is merely an observation from someone with a considerable amount of driving experience (average 60,000 miles a year & I have been doing it lots of years).


Originally posted by H48HPE
Its this sort of discussion that gives maestro owners a bad name,



maestro headlights were designed over 20 years ago;)

They are still optically superior to lots of headlights still in use



Dave looking in the gutter saved a badger and also his front bumper, if it helps someone drive better so what if they want to look in the gutter/ verge.

Think on

Andy

[H48HPE]

If you want to quote my posts thats fine but please dont alter the quotation, as its then not a quote despite being titled as such.

Im sure its not illegal to use *driving lamps* when its clear visability, they are designed to illuminate the area directly infront of the car, and the headlights are designed to illuminate the area ahead of the car.

Im not going to go down the stereotype meaestro driver path, those that understand my point will understand it those that dont probably wont ever

Andy;)

[H536NOG]

I did not intentionally modify your quote, I inserted responses to individual comments & unfortunately it did not post as planned.
I am not going to argue about this (or any other subject come to that), have a read of your initial responses H48, then go back & read my post again... read it for what it is not what you are trying to twist it into.

Goodnight

[H48HPE]

Im not twisting anything? thanks for letting me have the last say:cool:

Here goes:

Driving lamps suplement headlights.

Thank you

Andy

[E_T_V]

Driving lights is the term used to cover a whole range of lamps that aren't fog or head lamps.

Driving lights can flood the area immediatly infront of the car with light, or they can provide a pencil spot of light miles into the distance and a whole range of other in between.

The fact remains that using any when traffic is oncoming causes dazzle to other road users and so is illegal. (apart from fog lights in thick fog of course)

[Dave]

I agree - it is illegal, but as far as not looking at the gutter and looking where I am going... the general rule is "distance, middle, near, instruments, rear"... i.e you should be looking everywhere.

I rarely find anyones front fog lights dazzle - unless you stare at them... but the rears fog lights, now that is ANNOYING!!!

Dave.

[tony]

Originally posted by Dave
but the rears fog lights, now that is ANNOYING!!!

Dave.
i am forever driving with my rear fogs on ,i have a Escort van i hit the fog light sw with my knee all the time ,and the fog light,light is behind the steering wheel so i never see them on
d'oh:banghead: :rage: .i could allways get a proper car ,btw its just hit 250,000 miles this week,2nd gearbox,2nd diesel engine now with a new head on it
:)
mine is a p reg 1996 model:(

[Alan the Vanner]

I reckon what is worse is when people have their fog lights on at night when it is or has been raining. It is downright antisocial to me and I always have a good mind to stop the offending R-soles and tell them to either switch them out or I'll kick them out!!:rage: :rage: :rage:
Anyhow. I have noticed that it's foggy around here this morning, so I'm going to look out for drivers who have fog lights fitted but NOT switched on!:mad:

[Maria]

What is it with late-shape Escorts? Is that what your van is, Tony? If so, it'd explain why they seem to be the worst offenders.

What I hate is when people drive with sidelights and front fogs. it's not cool, it's BLINDING, and if visibility is really that bad, stick your bloody headlights on!

[mgdavid]

Er, not necessarily Maria - the whole point of fog lights is INSTEAD of headlights as the latter are aimed higher and are brighter so you get a huge reflection off the fog and can't see damn-all whereas the fogs are mounted lower, set lower and therefore give a spread of light at ground level suitable for maintaining progress at a sensible speed without blinding oneself.

[SubCat001]

I think one of the problems is the law is unable to distinguish the differences between Driving Lights and Fog lights. Also with regards fogs front or Back it doesn't have to be foggy before you switch them on providing visabilty is reduced within 100 metres.

[Maria]

Sorry, David, I should have made myself clearer. I hate sidelights and foglights when it's not foggy!

And I also hate it when there's a bit of mist hovering round the street lights but you can still see rear lights a mile ahead, and all the sheep stick their foglights on "because it's foggy" :rage:

[SimonR]

I, too, am against fog lights being on when there's no fog and have to admit that really bright offenders get full-beamed, just as someone who doesn't dip their lights does. Of course it's only a flash but I make the point.

I'm afraid I think it's very selfish and barry-boy like.

[H536NOG]

'Barry-boy' like? not familiar with that description...
What does it mean?

[Jonathan]

I hadn't heard of the term either until recently. But check this link out and all should become clear:

http://www.barryboys.co.uk/

Front fogs aren't always that dazzling, but I've noticed on some vehicles they're much bigger and brighter than on others to the extent of being completely blinding (and I'm not talking about driving lamps here, they're in the wrong position for that).

[Alan the Vanner]

Well, I counted eighteen vehicles on the way to work that had fog lights fitted but not switched on. A much larger proportion than fog lights on in no fog. I reckon people need to be educated about the proper use of vehicle lights. For example, when driving around the compound at work, we have to switch the headlights on, and the hazard lights on in bad weather conditions as well.;)

[H536NOG]

:laugh:
Thanks for enlightening me Jonathan (I think )
I had never heard of them being described as 'barry-boys', the term I use to describe them sounds something akin to a ships handbrake but lets not dwell on that :eek:

Originally posted by D428CHO
I hadn't heard of the term either until recently. But check this link out and all should become clear:

http://www.barryboys.co.uk/

Front fogs aren't always that dazzling, but I've noticed on some vehicles they're much bigger and brighter than on others to the extent of being completely blinding (and I'm not talking about driving lamps here, they're in the wrong position for that).

[talkingcars]

IIRC high intensity lights (front or rear) should only be used when visibility is below 100 metres.

The high intensity lights are incorrectly called "fog lights". They should be used regaardless of what causes the reduced visability.

When I have fitted any form of driving ligh to the front of my car I have wired them through an seperate switch and relay so that they only work with the full beam headlight.

Incidently "fog" is a reduction in visibilty due water vapour in the air up to 1000m , mist is 1000 to 2000m and 2000m up to thwe horizion is haze.

James

[Alan the Vanner]

I've only just looked at that barry boys site. HAAAAHHH!!!!:laugh:
So, they want us to send in photos for them to "rate" eh? I could go through a couple of reels of film just going through Bicester town centre!:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[Simon]

Originally posted by D428CHO
I hadn't heard of the term either until recently. But check this link out and all should become clear:

http://www.barryboys.co.uk/



So I clicked on the link and this is what they said....

http://www.wraggy.com/barryboys/html/index.htm
is inaccessible through Hertfordshire Grid For Learning
because it contains material which is inappropriate for use in schools.

I'll try at home instead:laugh:

[H536NOG]

:laugh: It contains inappropriate material full stop! :laugh: Originally posted by Simon


http://www.wraggy.com/barryboys/html/index.htm
is inaccessible through Hertfordshire Grid For Learning
because it contains material which is inappropriate for use in schools.

I'll try at home instead:laugh:

[maestromad]

i used to always have my fog lamps on before the car was crashed, not had a chance to put more on since it was rebuilt, anyione seen any on ebay?

[Cojones]

Foglights are only used in perfect visibility by stupid gits in a futile attempt to look cool.Since foglights can and have caused accidents due to dazzle, those who use them when they shouldn't should be skinned alive.

[MGTurbo]

Originally posted by Cojones
Foglights are only used in perfect visibility by stupid gits in a futile attempt to look cool.Since foglights can and have caused accidents due to dazzle, those who use them when they shouldn't should be skinned alive.

That's the first thing you have said that hasn't offended anyone, and something i'm sure most will agree with.