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Fog lights or driving lamps?

8K views 39 replies 19 participants last post by  Bob925 
#1 ·
Or is there a difference?

Can anybody tell me if the below (optional) lights I have on my Modus are fog lights, or are they just extra driving lights to aid visibility?



I have always thought they are fog lamps therefore have only ever used them when there is fog and visibility is below 100 metres, however I was on an advanced driving course in a new Focus the other day and I was told I could use its equivalent lights (shown below) at night time to increase visibility on the road and to see potholes and puddles etc.



Can anybody clear this up for me - are they fog lights or can I use them to aid general visibility at night?

Thanks
 
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#5 ·
You cannot be precise but you don't need to be exact - the rule is there as a guide so that dazzling fog lights are only on when desperately needed.

For a rough guide, consider a gap of about 4 or 5 buses in front of you. If you can't see further than that then you're definitely safe to put the fogs on.
 
#10 ·
Repeating some of what has already been said and elaborating a bit...

If they're fog lamps, then it should be possible to switch them on with the dipped beam headlights, or possibly even just the side lights. If they're driving lamps, then they they should be wired in such a manner that it's impossible to turn them on unless the main beam headlights are activated. In some cases there will be a separate switch (so you can have the driving lamps off with the main beam on) but in most cases, they're hard-wired to come on with the main beam and you won't have a switch.

There are regulations regarding the placement of fog lamps, which state that they must be below a certain height and within a certain distance of the edge of the bumper. Driving lamps can be placed anywhere (including below the bumper) as long as they're forward facing. As I recall, the Fiesta XR2i had both fog and driving lamps below the bumper.

Fog lamps traditionally had a lens pattern with vertical bars to spread the light, versus relatively clear lenses on driving lamps which just allowed the reflector to project a distant beam. However, many modern factory fit fog lamps have clear lenses (the Laguna ones being a good example.)

The pictures look factory spec, so I'd say with confidence that they're fog lamps. On a typical modern Renault, they will be operated by the same switch as the rear fog lights (Newer models: click forward and release for front fog on/off and click back and release for rear fog on/off. Older models: turn one click gives front only and two clicks gives both.)
 
#12 · (Edited by Moderator)
If they're fog lamps, then it should be possible to switch them on with the dipped beam headlights, or possibly even just the side lights. If they're driving lamps, then they they should be wired in such a manner that it's impossible to turn them on unless the main beam headlights are activated. In some cases there will be a separate switch (so you can have the driving lamps off with the main beam on) but in most cases, they're hard-wired to come on with the main beam and you won't have a switch
Correct!


Highway Code: Rule 226

You MUST use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres (328 feet). You may also use front or rear fog lights but you MUST switch them off when visibility improves (see Rule 236).

Highway Code: Rule 236

You MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226) as they dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves.

Its the tw*ts that drive around with the fog lights on in Non foggy conditions cos it looks "cool".. Or even worse than that the Tw*ts that drive with the the fogs on and only sidelights.. What is that all about!!! :nonono: :nonono:
 
#13 ·
I think it's supposed to say....

'Hey,look at me.My car is a higher spec one than yours and I have front foglights,see how they shine'.

Either that or....

'Hey,look at me......I am a retard and can't find the headlight switch'

:d
 
#14 · (Edited)
Actually, it's a shame that's technically illegal, 'cause in real fog I get horrible glare from the headlights, and being able to run just sides + fogs would actually allow me to drive more safely...

Plus I have to admit to using mine instead of/in addition to the main beams on occasion, because their wider beam projection actually makes a lot of sense in the windy little country lanes which surround Bath.
 
#16 ·
I agree... defo front fog lamps as driving lamps should come on with full beam. I do however use mine on occasion to throw another 110w of light on the road, but I use them with full beam and turn BOTH off when I see other road users in front of me. At the end of the day, as long as there is no one in front, why not be a bit safer and help visibility with all means at your disposal?
 
#18 ·
I always thought "fogs" & "driving lamps" were the same thing !

One way to find out is to switch them on when you spot a traffic cop ......... like the one who caught my mate ..... and lightened his wallet by £30.
His missus had just returned home with the car and he popped out on a wee errand. They never even switched the engine off and he never spotted the light on the dash.
Nightmare
 
G
#20 ·
It's really easy to figure this out

Find a dark straight road and switch on the aux lights

If you can see more just in front of the car they are fogs, if you can see further down the road they are spots/driving lights
 
#24 ·
Wondering if anyone has the same problem.When im driving around town it seems the newer cars dipped lights seem to dazzel you oncoming and in the rear mirror. I found that the fogs dont through up the light into your eyes when you driving towards or away from someone.:confused: :cool:

Always was told that the fornt lights were spots and the rear one was the fog light.:eek: Im porblery wrong though:(

Alan
 
#26 ·
I would suspect that fogs are probably a lot less dazzling than main beams! After all, they're very intentionally pointed at the ground in front of the car, unlike the main beams which are pointed straight ahead...

One would hope that the way I use them, nobody gets blinded by either as I'm not going to drive towards traffic with either my main beams or fogs on!

Lots of things are illegal. Smoking pot is illegal, even though the statistics suggest that it's far less dangerous than drinking. Just disagreeing with somebody could get you arrested under anti-terror laws if they claim you were inciting hatred. Screw the law if it's moronic.
 
#34 ·
I think that only dipped beam is tested for the MOT.
Fog lights must only be used in fog or falling snow in conjunction with dipped beam rear Fog lights are called FOG HAZARD LIGHTS,Driving lamps are used with main beam only.and if someone come behind me with lights on full I just adjust my door mirrors to reflect the light back at them!¬!!. ;^}
Ray
 
#38 ·
Christ knows why he needed foglights on for, its in the middle of town on a dual carriageway, highly illuminated with street lights. The day in question was a bit murky/misty earlier, but cleared later.
I can imagine them on being necessary if its a pea souper, or in the countryside.
.
.
http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/news/Driver-in-a-fog-over.4761461.jp

But to his credit, he did have lights on. Better that than some of these dimwits :loser: who drive in total fog with none on at all....
 
#40 ·
For many many years now cars have headlamp levelling...

I'm sure we all know what headlamp levelling is, but for those that don't it is a means of adjusting ones dipped and main beam haead lamps in relation to the load carried in the car. My ancient Cavalier has headlamp levelling!

So why don't people utilise it properly? Many many cars dazzle me without the front fog lights being on, in fact I don't find that front fog lights are all that dazzling to me TBH. If your car has this feature, then set the thing to its next-to-lowest setting IF you are most of the time in your car alone, or with one passenger and nowt in the back!

Xenon (or whatever they're called) lights - now they should be regulated in some way, that flickery, ultra-bright "flashiness" (for want of a better word!) of them is most dazzling and very very annoying, worse IMO than plain halogen fog lights. Perhaps I should get a car with such lights, so I can join in :rolleyes:

In response to the OP pics - I'd say they were most deffo fog lights :)
 
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