In fog, heavy rain or snow, always use your dipped headlights (low beams). Low beams work better in these weather conditions. In fog, the high beam will reflect back and cause glare.
Which lights should you use when driving in a fog?
Your fog lamps are the most apt to be used for driving in foggy conditions. Fog comprises of particles suspended in the air which scatters light. Your normal low/high beam lights are designed to penetrate longer distances; but if you flash them in fog, the fog will simply reflect back most of all that bright light right back at you.
Driving in fog is always dangerous and should be avoided entirely if at all possible. If you must drive in fog, be sure to turn on your low beam headlights and fog lights, even during the daytime.
The Highway Code says you must use headlights when you can’t see for more than 100m in front of you. You can also use front or rear fog lights but this is optional. You must turn fog lights off when visibility improves so you don’t dazzle other drivers.
What fog lights do?
Enhanced visibility (during foggy setting) Fog lights have a peculiar beam shape compared to your regular headlights. Informs other road users of your distance . Because distance is a tricky thing when driving under poor road visibility, rear fog lights function as an indicator of distance between cars Not a headlight replacement. While fog light should be used together with your regular headlight when road visibility drops, it should not be used as a replacement of headlights.
What are fog lights, and when should you use them?
Fog lights are, as their name suggests, lights to be used during foggy situations, and alternatively during rain, snow, smoke, sandstorms, or other low light, low visibility circumstances.
Unlike high and low beam headlights, which both see regular use, fog lights are only really useful in a small handful of very specific situations. The fact is that fog lights are specifically designed for use in poor weather and other situations where visibility is severely reduced by mist, fog, or even sand and dust in the air.
Another common inquiry is “What are fog lights and how do they work?”.
When you turn on the fog lights during inclement weather, they will help make it easier to see the edges of the roadway. This can make it easier for the driver to make it safely to their destination, as long as they are driving slowly.
Do fog lights actually work?
You do get the best results when you actually use the fog lights in foggy conditions. The problem, however, is that people tend to overuse them, even when it’s not foggy outside. Some drivers, for example, have the habit of using fog lights at night for extra illumination.
The same things that explain why fog lights do, in fact, help in foggy conditions : placement and beam spread. As we previously stated, fog lights are auxiliary lights. They’re meant to supplement the headlights, not replace them entirely, Your, and mechanic explains. And just like your headlights, they need to be aimed correctly for maximum efficiency.