fog lights

[veeman]

At night particularly on local roads where there are no or few street lamps but also on poorly lit highways and parkways, I find keeping my fog lights on is very helpful.  Particularly if the area is heavily wooded or there are a lot of parked cars on the shoulder, it's much easier to see darting deer or pedestrians.

I find that most other vehicles even if they have fog lights don't keep them on though.  I always wonder why not?  Even if the road is relatively well lit, is there any downside?  Are there any circumstances where its illegal to keep them on?

[280Z Turbo]

Shouldnt be. The cut line is required to be below the headlamps. As long as they're properly aimed I see no problem.

[giant_mtb]

I like to have mine on, too, for the most part.  Definitely helps in the nearer-field vision, and mine seem to have a nice wide spread which, like you said, makes keeping an eye out for deer or other animals a little easier.  In fact, I wish I could keep my fog lights on while my brights are on.  I don't think it's illegal ever to have them on. 

[Rupert]

Only problem is that the more light closer in can cause your eye to concentrate closer in, too, which can lead to not seeing stuff further out. IMO, if you need fog lights to drive in the non-fog/rain/snow, you really just need better headlights.

Also, if your fogs are lighting past the low beams and not just filling in closer, they are not fogs, are terribly aimed, or are terrible in the actual fog.

[Colin]

Completely illegal in Europe to use them unless visibility is degraded.

[280Z Turbo]

Completely illegal in Europe to use them unless visibility is degraded.

I have no idea why.

Maybe your aiming is different.

[S204STi]

Seems absurd to ban their use when xenon HIDs put out as many or more lumens as any combination of halogen lamps and fogs.

[Rupert]

I don't generally notice an improvement in brightness or coverage with fogs in good weather. If they're good fogs, you get some extra light out to the sides close-in, but you can't really use that if you are going faster than 25 mph since by the time something is in that light, it's too late to react.

[93JC]

I never turn my fog lights on. They're useless, I barely notice they're on.

[S204STi]

Mine are now obsolete.  Thinking I'll return them to stock and just keep them off all the time unless I have a burnout on one of my mains.

[Rich]

I liked the ones on the MINI.  Nice wide and low pattern, great for seeing curbs in city/suburbia.  The Miata's and Mustang's are pretty worthless.

(IMO)

[Rupert]

I never turn my fog lights on. They're useless, I barely notice they're on.

Stockers are generally pretty shitty. The stock Hellas on the 944 are OK, and I put Hellas on the Explorer, also OK. It's is a pretty marginal difference, even in the rain/fog/snow.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Driving lights are hella better. I wired Swift's to switch on with the high beams. Ultra high beams. Was illegal for state inspection, though. Stupid heads.

[Rupert]

Yeah, I also have huge Hella driving lights on the Explorer with 100 W bulbs. They're wired like that, but with one more switch to turn them off if necessary. Porsche doesn't need 'em, 'cause it has 100 W high beams.

[TurboDan]

Seems absurd to ban their use when xenon HIDs put out as many or more lumens as any combination of halogen lamps and fogs.

Yeah, I have xenon HID headlights and halogen fog lights. They DO serve a purpose in foul weather (I live in an area prone to tidal flooding), but in good weather they're pointless and I don't use them.

[sportyaccordy]

Seems absurd to ban their use when xenon HIDs put out as many or more lumens as any combination of halogen lamps and fogs.

Yep. Hell even good halogen headlights give a good spread. I have 1 GSXR projector on my bike and I am always surprised by its coverage in pitch darkness. Still gonna upgrade though.

[cawimmer430]

Completely illegal in Europe to use them unless visibility is degraded.

Yeah, same here. You can face hefty fines and points on your license for using fog lights in un-foggy weather. Ridiculous in my opinion since sometimes on a dark and rainy night I find them helpful, especially out in the middle of nowhere!

[Tave]

I know state driving manuals often caution drivers to use fog lights only when conditions call for them. I don't know whether any state has laws on the books like Colin mentioned, although it wouldn't surprise me if they did. Whether they're actually enforced is a separate issue.

Aiming them towards the ground doesn't exactly fix the issue. If other drivers can see the light, and they always can, then it adds to the glare. And the light that doesn't hit the drivers directly is reflected off the ground in many situations, also adding to the glare.

[Raza]

I don't generally notice an improvement in brightness or coverage with fogs in good weather. If they're good fogs, you get some extra light out to the sides close-in, but you can't really use that if you are going faster than 25 mph since by the time something is in that light, it's too late to react.

At least you get to see the deer before you hit it. 

I have been without fog lights for four years.  I kept almost having them installed, but then kept not caring enough to do it.  I do like the way they look though, and I do like the extra light.  But, whatever.

[sportyaccordy]

I love to have them + side lights on and have the headlights off. Yea its stupid but it looks cool as shit.

[S204STi]

For me the solution would look like 3000K HIDs retrofitted into the stock projector housings.  Probably still absurd to have that much lighting aimed that close to me though.

[280Z Turbo]

I am really not a lighting enthusiast. Funny, considering what my job is.

[Rupert]

I am really not a lighting enthusiast. Funny, considering what my job is.

I just like seeing good.

[Rupert]

I was playing with my fogs today, and they did add some light, but it was all close in, which is not what you want.

[AutobahnSHO]

It's illegal to use them in non-foggy conditions because of the glare off the road surface to oncoming drivers.

I kinda wish I had some to point really wide for cornering at night, but oh well..

[280Z Turbo]

It's illegal to use them in non-foggy conditions because of the glare off the road surface to oncoming drivers.

I kinda wish I had some to point really wide for cornering at night, but oh well..

It's never bothered me. HIDs bother me more than foglights.

[MX793]

It's never bothered me. HIDs bother me more than foglights.

Trucks/SUVs with HIDs are the worst.

[S204STi]

Trucks/SUVs with HIDs are the worst.

Yep.  Usually poorly aimed to begin with, then also so far above the typical field of vision of most drivers that there's no escaping the glare.

[93JC]

HIDs!!

HIDs should be illegal. I hate them with a passion.

[TurboDan]

I hate them with a passion.

You'll hate them until you buy a car that has 'em.