With the winters approaching, it is natural that you’re going to be worried about visibility. Driving in winter can be quite difficult, and fog contributes to making our driving even more dangerous.

But there is good news! To avoid such stressful situations, we have fog lights/lamps in our cars. So, the next time whenever there is fog, turn them on and you’re good to go.

But are you wondering when to use your fog lights? Well, there’s a lot of ambiguity about the accurate use of fog lights. One wrong time & you could be jeopardizing your life as well as the life of all the others along with you. And violating the law!

You must use your dipped headlights when visibility is lessened & the fog lights when the clarity is diminished to 100 meters or less. Still, confused?

Don’t worry, we’re here to assist you out.

Before discovering when to use them, do you really know what fog lights are? If your answer is a NO, then let’s promptly jump in to study about them.

What are fog lights?

Fog Lights are a type of automotive headlight that is invented precisely to transmit light in a bar-shaped beam. The high beam & low beam headlights are both sighted at a comparatively shallow angle, which enables it to brighten the road surface at a great distance in front of a vehicle.

Some fog lights produce yellow light, hence creating a misconception that all of them produce exactly the same kind of light. In reality, they are both yellow as well as white in color. And can only be used in combination with the dipped beam or parking lights.

Fog lights are devised explicitly for their effectiveness in miserable weather and other circumstances when clarity is diminished harshly by mist, fog, or even sand and dust in the wind. Hence, during those bad climate conditions, if your vehicle isn’t provided with the right lighting, it can both lead to accidents or some hazardous states – which can be dangerous.

And to avoid such situations, there are fog lights installed in your vehicle which are an essential addition to your vehicle. Entirely different from your regular headlights, the front fog light allows the driver to see in front of the vehicle.

In contrast, a rear fog light lamp produces a red-colored light, which is similar to your brake lights and allows other drivers to see your vehicle even in cases of low-visibility conditions.

Now that we have learned a thing or two about fog lights, let’s jump quickly into learning how & when to use them.

| Also Read: Winter Car Care: How to Take Care of your Car Battery & Tyres |

When should you use fog lights?

According to some drivers, even if there is the daintiest bit of mist they use their vehicle’s fog lights; thus endangering the lives of other drivers. So, let me clarify when you should use them and most importantly when they should stay off.

You are only recommended to use fog lights when the perceptibility is decreased to 100 meters or less; also in situations of massive snow or rain.

A great rule of thumb for using your fog lights in the UK is whether you can see the next street light from the road you’re presently at. And this makes you clear when you should be using them.

When to not use fog lights?

If the fog has released & the weather is bright, you should switch off your fog lights because then you are risking the lives of others.

Another reason why you should turn the fog lights off is that having the road surface lit up right in front of your car can widen your eyes; hence reducing your ability to see the darker road in front of you or in some cases, can harm them to a large extent.

So, using them during bad weather conditions is common but during normal driving circumstances, or keeping them on all the time can be fatal.

Now that it is clear to you when you should be using fog lights, let’s read how they can be used.

How to use fog lights?

Though fog lights aren’t a legal requirement, they are installed inside various cars as standard. And it’s super easy to use them, you can easily switch them on using the same stalk as headlights, or by a single button on the dashboard.
And Voila! You can use them.

Pretty simple!

| Also Read: How to Take care of your Car During Winter? |

FAQs

1. Is it illegal to drive with front lights on?
   Front or Rear fog lights must be used only when it’s raining outside or there is a lot of fog, or when conditions like dust & smoke limit your vision. And it’s a legal requirement that once circumstances change, the front lights or rear fog lights should be switched off.
2. Can I use Fog lights all the time?
   Yes, it is permitted to use fog lights all the time if the lights are within the proper height & aimed within the legal range. But fog lights should be used only in low-visibility frames, as some can be troublesome on the other drivers’ eyes too.
3. When driving in fog which lights do you use?
   Don’t use high-beam headlights as they only reflect the lights in your eyes & do not gleam through the fog; making it graver for you as well as the other drivers. In contrast, low-beam lights can be used in remarkably dense fog.
4. Can you use LED fog lights as headlights?
   LED bulbs are great as fog lights or interior lights. They are radiant, use less power & lasts for a long time. Thus, you no longer have to worry about your bulbs burning out & you’ll be able to save your money as well as time.
5. Is fog the same as low beam?
   No, fog lights are not similar to low beam lights. Fog lights are a separate beam that only comes on certain cars & are not required by law.
6. Why is it bad to leave rear lights on?
   Rear fog lights can obscure your brake lights and block drivers behind from apprehending the braking. Both front & rear fog lights create unnecessary glare in good visibility which can dazzle & bother the other road users.
7. What should you do if you park on the road when it’s foggy?
   If you have to park your vehicle on the road or if you have, try to find a place to park off the road. You can also try parking your vehicle facing the same direction as traffic & leave your sidelights switched on and make sure they’re clean.
8. What is the best color for fog lights?
   “Amber” light works best for fog lights because it provides better visibility in fog, dust & snowstorms than pure “white” and even “blue-tinted” lights.
9. Which is best – Yellow or White fog lights?
   Yellow lights are fancied by car drivers, particularly in bad weather conditions. The yellow color is less frustrating for the eyes than the blue or white shades.
10. How do you aim for fog lights?
    Fog lights should be placed almost 24 inches apart & pointed so that the cut-off line of the beams is about the midst of the low-beam headlights’ pattern. The most excellent way to aim the lights is to place the truck on a level surface 25 feet from a wall.
11. Are sidelights and parking lights the same?
    Sidelights a.k.a parking lights are frequently contained in the same headlight until as your regular headlights & full beams – on both the front edges of your car.

So, this was all about fog lamps and their accurate use. And with the help of the above-mentioned factors & information, you can effortlessly use your fog lamps in situations of heavy snow and rain or when there is dense fog in the morning & perceptibility is reduced to zero. If you encounter any difficulty or have any other queries concerning the same, feel free to comment down below and let us know.