Forum Topic

Fog/Driving Lamps

Whats with the new (illegal) craze of driving with fog/driving lamps on???Seemingly every other car does.Police love an easy touch with the motorist usually heading the list.Another way to raise £15.000.000 to fight knife crime

Peter Yale ● 2877d9 Comments

I seem to recall mocking my then girlfriend's father for driving with his headlights in in 1980. He had no choice as the Volvo didn't allow sidelights to be switched off.

Andrew Mcauley ● 2872d

Many new cars don't have front fog lights, some incorporate the fog lights into the headlight unit, must admit I drive a lot and hardly ever see front fog lights on as they used to be, a separate light below, I think you are still talking about DRLsAlso many new cars can have LED lights which are brighter but give a more direct light to where its needed, my car has adaptive LEDs which sense the light and motion of the car, also can sense when a car is coming towards me and adjust the direct of the beam

Declan Devine ● 2873d

Even though the legislation became law in 2011, a lot of manufacturers started incorporating DRL's into their designs as early as 2004/5.If you have a physical switch to turn them on/off then yes these are fog lights. If they come on automatically when the ignition is switched on then they're DRL's and TBH there is no real way from the exterior to tell (apart from all cars post 2011).

Lee Page ● 2873d

I refer to front lights. Maybe my cars antiquated (09 plate).When I turn headlights on I have to specifically press a switch to enable foglamps.I feel pretty certain many vehicles are driving with these added & blinding lights

Peter Yale ● 2874d

EU law since 2011 all new cars are fitted with Daytime running lights, below taken from DVLC, on many new cars these are LEDDaytime running lights (DRL) are purpose-made, low-wattage lights that are fitted to a vehicle and used during the day to improve the visibility of a vehicle to other drivers as well as pedestrians, cyclists and other road users. They do not need to be operated manually as they automatically activate when the engine is started and turn off when the engine stops or when headlights are switched on at night.

Declan Devine ● 2874d

Was the query about rear fog lights, which in older vehicles were 21 watt tungsten, so almost the same brightness as rear-and-brake lights together? It is difficult to guess what power ratings apply to newer LED lamps. I have not been shown any, but have been told that LED replacements are available to fit the older tungsten lampholders. (I have too often noticed that cars have their lights incorrectly connected after bodywork repairs).

Christopher Bell ● 2876d

In my experience the inappropriate use of fog lamps is quite rare in town. Indeed the majority of cars do not have front fogs as standard spec from new.

Philip Coe ● 2876d

The Highway Code says that you should only use fog lamps when the visibility drops below 100m.  Driving lights are in use when a cars engine is running.

Fred Hunt ● 2876d

I assume you do not mean dipped headlights always on, as some cars do not allow them to be switched off when the engine is running. To be any use as front fog lights they need to be near the ground to avoid just illuminating the fog. If you mean rear fog lights, perhaps they are just very bright LED rear lights. The requirements for tungsten stop-and-tail used to be 21/5 watts, but that would be blinding if the same amount of power is fed to LEDs.

Christopher Bell ● 2877d