think fog.
Some people suffer from that! ;-D
|
|
|
Front Fog lights are higher intensity,and are not angled to the left like headlights are (or should be). They therefore dazzle oncoming drivers.
I blame manufacturers though, since they tend to make front fog lights standard on 'sport' models or higher spec, so drivers think it makes them look more exclusive.
TBH I've never found a use for them, they really don't illuminate the road far enough to make a difference, and most drivers keep their headlights on when they use them, which makes them completely useless since the headlights still reflect off the fog!
|
"Front Fog lights are higher intensity, and are not angled to the left like headlights are"
I beg to differ, Shawad! Fog lights can be no more than 55W IIRC, i.e. the same as dipped beam. Whilst dipped beams are flat and angled upwards at the nearside (left), foglight beams are totally flat and significantly broader.
Whether used in daytime or at night, front foglights, generally being nearer to the ground, tend to reflect rain or puddles on the ground: the dazzling stupidity of drivers who leave them on is matched only by the dazzle of the lights themselves.
On winding country roads and when driving up and down hills, the raised, angled part of dipped beams often cross the line of vision of the driver in front (or oncoming) and cause dazzle; this is not the case with foglights. Front foglights are now often roped into service as "cornering lights", coming on and off as the car takes successive left and right bends.
For many years, it was customary in Germany and Switzerland to permit the "sidelights + front foglight" combination for this very reason; look at the front of older Passats and Mercedes and a few other cars (Volvo 7/9 series, Fiat Stilo) and you will see foglights at the same height as headlights.
|
'Correctly aligned fog lights' but this is not checked as part of the MOT unlike dip/main beam lights and so they often get knocked/misaligned and so increase dazzle to other road users.
Also use of fog lights on wet roads increases dazzle to other road users especially when no fog is present.
Incorrect use of both front and rear foglights is one of my pet hates!
StarGazer
Edited by Stargazer {P} on 20/05/2008 at 12:26
|
|
|
Surely nothing but full beam headlights can dazzle in daytime?
Rear foglights though may do so in my experience.
Pedants don't like them as it often indicates either that you forgot to turn them off after last trip in fog, or that you don't drive within the law at all times, or that you have a higher spec than them. Funnily enough, speeding doesn't attract the same opprobrium!
They are entirely uneccessary though, since they are useful in visibility under 50 yards only, which hardly ever happens. It did, pre smokeless fuel, but then they didn't make them as standard! Doh!
|
|
|
|
Some of these lights used to be called "auxilliary driving lights" but haven't seen that label for a while. Fact of the matter is, if you only have your fog lights on then you are saying "look at me, I've got fog lights, I am driving fast and I will be 2 feet behind you very soon". A bit like why people use mobile phones while driving, to let people know "I've got a mobile phone, I know someone else and I can drive while using it" Both single you out as a d*ck.
|
|
Didn't we all agree in another thread that using fog lights and tailgating was a sign that you were gay and cruising for some companionship???
|
What's the technical difference between headlight and foglight? [other than their location]
Edited by movilogo on 20/05/2008 at 13:36
|
What's the technical difference between headlight and foglight? [other than their location]
One big difference is that generally foglights can't be accurately adjusted. To adjust them, in most cases you have to bend the mounting bracket or whatever.
|
|
|
|
Some of these lights used to be called "auxilliary driving lights" but haven't seen that label for a while.
Driving (auxiliary or whatever) lights, AKA spot lights, are a different kettle of fish. They may be used in conjunction with Main Beam headlights and must be wired to only come on with main beam and extinguish when dipped beam is selected.
|
|
|
|
"front foglights, generally being nearer to the ground"
I've had three cars now with the fog lights in the main headlight unit: Golf GTi MKIV, Passat and now Mazda6 Sport. I assume these shine down at more of an angle than other lights?
I find it odd that the Mazda6 non-sport (previous model) has light units where front fogs could be but lower models have them added (optional extra) in the lower front bumper.... so it has fake "lights" in the headlight unit.
|
|
|
|
>>TBH I've never found a use for them, they really don't illuminate the road far enough to make a difference,
>>
I suspect you have not driven in really thick fog when you are forced into driving really slowly with dip beams off. Then they do illuminate the only bit of the road just in front of you which is all you require. It also allows you to see the lights of oncoming vehicles a little earlier.
|
|
Cos it makes you look like a chav.
|
|
|
And I think that fog is less dense closer to the ground, hence the reason why they are in the air dam and not on the roof.
|
1. Because headlights are more visible.
2. Because foglights dazzle.
Can't both be right.
(I appreciate there is 3, common to both camps; because we are holier than thou and we say so!)
|
|
|
|
Fog lights dazzle more than headlights as they are of poor quality optics and scatter more light, they are not dipped away from oncoming traffic, the alignment is not checked in the MOT, they are mounted in flimsy plastic trim which could bend at high speed or from parking knocks on kerbs etc.., they are mounted much lower from the ground and so the azimuth is possibly less than that of a headlight.
|
I was stopped by an overzelous plod pulling out of a firework display late at night & I must admit to driving with the front fogs on but partly due to so may children walking around an unlit car park, the lights did assist in lighting up a very dark area but Mr Plod didn't have the same sympathy! so why is it OK for a mercedes benz to use its fog lights ( even though individually) turning left or right! as they come on with the indicators ,where does that one stand with Mr Plod!
Doc
|
|
I suspect trollery going on here (and I fell for it)
|
|
|
|
Roomsters have these cornering fog lights - and very jolly they are as well !
Edited by Pugugly on 20/05/2008 at 21:09
|
|
In several european countries, front fog lights are permitted in lieu of headlights as daytime running lights.
|
|
|
I've asked this before when these "jolly" lights were mentioned but didn't get an answer - so, here goes again
a) Isn't it against the law to use these when it isn't foggy?
b) Isn't it against the law to have head/driving/fog lights which don't operate as a pair?
|
lights which don't operate as a pair?
Always fancied one ot those police thingies that make the headlights flash on main beam alternately.
Not as good as blues behind the grille though.
|
|
Don't know is the honest answer - I'll look it up sometime, doubt whether they'd be Type Approved if they weren't legal though.
|
What's the technical difference between headlight and foglight? [other than their location]
Fog lights were (used) to be designed to "throw a pencil beam" (think theatre spot-light) as opposed to a "spread beam" as used by headlights. The idea was that a pencil beam would penetrate deeply through the fog and illuminate the road/verge, without throwing back a face full of reflection and glare. This was also one reason that fog-lights often had yellowed reflectors, as yellow light was deemed to be less dazzling than white-light.
Billy
|
Fog lights were (used) to be designed to "throw a pencil beam" (think theatre spot-light) as opposed to a "spread beam" as used by headlights. The idea was that a pencil beam would penetrate deeply through the fog and illuminate the road/verge without throwing back a face full of reflection and glare.
This is news to me. All my fog lights over the last 40 years have had a broad spread of light to light up the verge / centre line just a few feet ahead.
My"driving lights" had a narrow beam to light up the distance and suppliment the long range main beams.
This was also one reason that fog-lights often had yellowed reflectors as yellow light was deemed to be less dazzling than white-light.
>>
I know the Fench like yellow lights but all mine have been pure white.:-)
|
Err! got any of that humble pie left Henry?
All those years ago in my yoof when i could have been "flying about" all lamps lit, impressing the ladies, (yes! they were impressed by such things in my day!!!) and looking "cool".
But I didn't because I thought they were "fog" lights and it was illegal!!!
Now thanks to your post 40 years on, i find that they were actually Auxillary Driving Lights, and were quite acceptable to use (providing they either dipped or extinguished with main beam) but some tatty had wired them up wrong!!
tinyurl.com/3jqh4j
Billy
|
tinyurl.com/3jqh4j
That's for yanks. Their road laws do not apply 'ere.
|
|
I don't think cornering lights ARE type approved in the UK. I suspect they are covered by some EU legislation which means we have to allow them because they are legal in Europe - like LED brake light too, I think.
|
"I don't think cornering lights ARE type approved in the UK"
High intensity discharge (aka Xenon) lights are not type approved in the UK either. But they are covered by EU legislation so therefore have to be allowed.
|
Oh, good! now I can use the kit in Toad's boot.
|
|
My new C5 has cornering lights which are great and would be useful were I meandering home/setting out on a B-road in the dark, never mid fog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
