In The Spirit Of Jack's Request......
ChatterBank2 mins ago
Questions on Car Lights
My Micra has one rear fog light . I rarely use it because of the amount of flashes i get . People obviously think one of my fogs has gone and are trying to warn me. Does anyone else driving a car with one fog light get this happening to them?
Secondly - many Cars appear to have their lights on a setting barely short of Full Beam - fairly unpleasant especially on unlit roads ( i assume its a Fog setting ) Are people aware that they are Dazzling other road users? Do they care? Even if it is not legal i would put money on very few people being pulled over for it.
Secondly - many Cars appear to have their lights on a setting barely short of Full Beam - fairly unpleasant especially on unlit roads ( i assume its a Fog setting ) Are people aware that they are Dazzling other road users? Do they care? Even if it is not legal i would put money on very few people being pulled over for it.
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.I am assuming the irony between the 1st and 2nd paragraph is deliberate. However, on the off chance that you are not joking then people are flashing you because you are dazzling them. Only use your rear fog light in heavy fog on unlit roads (ie a country road on a foggy night), not in built up areas.
Under Regulation 27 of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, use of the headlamps is prohibited if
� Used so as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other persons using the road�.
I've put on ma fog lamps to show a driver behind he is dazzling me but more often than not he'll put his on full beam to show me they weren't on already. It's a pain and like you say, I doubt many are stopped.
� Used so as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other persons using the road�.
I've put on ma fog lamps to show a driver behind he is dazzling me but more often than not he'll put his on full beam to show me they weren't on already. It's a pain and like you say, I doubt many are stopped.
I have to disagree with Kramer81 . How someone behind me can be dazzled by a single rear fog light is puzzling as most of the people are themselves on Full Intensity. I stand on my point that they think one of my rear lights is out. I occasionally flash to warn people if their rear lights arent working as a matter of courtesy.
Yes , Corbyloon , I have learned that use of rear lights to alert a Driver behind usually results in them Dazzling more combined with a menacing move to six inches behind my rear Bumper.
Yes , Corbyloon , I have learned that use of rear lights to alert a Driver behind usually results in them Dazzling more combined with a menacing move to six inches behind my rear Bumper.
I also rarely use my fron or rear fog lights because they are very rarely needed. I think I have used them about 6 times since they first came out, a lot of puzzled stupid drivers put them on at the first spot of rain. The regulations for putting on any fog lights is if the visibility is under 100 yards.
No cars have headlights that have a fog setting.
A lot of puzzled stupid motorists have wrongly adjusted headlights and are also to stupid to be aware of it.
No cars have headlights that have a fog setting.
A lot of puzzled stupid motorists have wrongly adjusted headlights and are also to stupid to be aware of it.
I agree with the first two here Airbolt. Rear fog lamps should only be used in foggy weather. They are very bright and it is really annoying when people put them at any other time. Surely the number of people flashing you should show you how uncomfortable you are making other road users. Rear fog lamps do dazzle and there is no need for them to be on if it is not foggy.
I'm also pretty sure that it is illegal to have a rear fog light on unnecessarily as it can lead to an accident. I'm sure the reason is that following drivers may be misled into thinking you are braking. When they get used to the bright red light, they might then fail to notice your real brake lights when you do brake and that can cause an accident. As usual, if everyone stuck to the rules then there would be far fewer accidents.
The law says that all the fitted lights on your car must be working. If your car is only fitted with one fog lamp then you only need the one working, regardless of whether you have twin lenses. Some other countries require a fog lamp on both sides of the car but not here. We only require all fitted lights to work.
With regard to the bright front lights of other cars. Some car models do have brighter lights that others, especially modern makes. If a car is towing a load - or it has weight in the back - then that can tip the front of the car up causing dazzle. Some cars have adjusters to correct that but they may be incorrectly set sometimes.
It's not worth getting worked up about bright lights at night though. Hell, life's too short and that's the sort of thing that happens when you are a driver. It's not worth getting into a flashing squabble as that just ends in trouble. Hope that helps!
I'm also pretty sure that it is illegal to have a rear fog light on unnecessarily as it can lead to an accident. I'm sure the reason is that following drivers may be misled into thinking you are braking. When they get used to the bright red light, they might then fail to notice your real brake lights when you do brake and that can cause an accident. As usual, if everyone stuck to the rules then there would be far fewer accidents.
The law says that all the fitted lights on your car must be working. If your car is only fitted with one fog lamp then you only need the one working, regardless of whether you have twin lenses. Some other countries require a fog lamp on both sides of the car but not here. We only require all fitted lights to work.
With regard to the bright front lights of other cars. Some car models do have brighter lights that others, especially modern makes. If a car is towing a load - or it has weight in the back - then that can tip the front of the car up causing dazzle. Some cars have adjusters to correct that but they may be incorrectly set sometimes.
It's not worth getting worked up about bright lights at night though. Hell, life's too short and that's the sort of thing that happens when you are a driver. It's not worth getting into a flashing squabble as that just ends in trouble. Hope that helps!
Foglights are very different from both brake and normal tail lights and are easily distinguishable. It is common for cars to have a single one. Other drivers are flashing you because evidently you are one of those idiots who drive with fog lights on all the time. Turn them off, check the manual to locate the switch.
My 2p's worth is that rear fog lights do dazzle, and are worse than front fogs, which I can't recall ever being dazzled by. As someone else has said - only use the fog lights if there's 100yds or less visibility.
I have from time to time been flashed (but not for months now) I presume as I have Xenon headlights (which are fantastic and I wouldn't get a car without them), though I don't think they're blinding. I find 4x4 lights more of a problem, as they're at eye level to start with.
I have from time to time been flashed (but not for months now) I presume as I have Xenon headlights (which are fantastic and I wouldn't get a car without them), though I don't think they're blinding. I find 4x4 lights more of a problem, as they're at eye level to start with.
in answer to your question, you only need one rear foglight , many new cars appear to have two fog lenses but in fact only the offside works, perfectly legal. so they aint flashing you for only having one. secondly, headlights. every car in this country has to pass the mot test which includes headlamp aim. this is tested on dip beam so i also often wonder why so many cars have headlights on dip but on the verge of main therefore blinding everyone. ithink they must readjust them after passing the test to help them see further down the road. then of course you get the **** with one headlamp on dip and the other on plane spotting. blinding!!
Regarding Xenon headlights.
I recently went for a regular eye test and mentioned to the optometrist that these headlights dazzled me even when walking at night, as well as when driving. Where my eyes at fault? He told me that more and more people were saying this and thought some investigation as to their effect was called for.
I can't see much happening when manufacturers have spent millions building their cars round the things.
I realise they are great for the drivers of the cars with them, but not for the drivers (or walkers) facing them.
I recently went for a regular eye test and mentioned to the optometrist that these headlights dazzled me even when walking at night, as well as when driving. Where my eyes at fault? He told me that more and more people were saying this and thought some investigation as to their effect was called for.
I can't see much happening when manufacturers have spent millions building their cars round the things.
I realise they are great for the drivers of the cars with them, but not for the drivers (or walkers) facing them.
a lot of drivers don't know most cars now have a low beam adjuster to compensate for a load in the rear of the car and this can be set wrong or in my case easily caught and set to max height this does cause dazzle to on coming traffic and cars in front,it's usually a small thumb wheel around the right of the dashboard
RE:Airbolt They can dazzle because they are very bright, hence them being effective in heavy fog. If they weren't very bright then they would just be normal tail lights.
Maybe you should stand behind your car with your fog light on and see how long it takes before you get a headache. We are not making assumptions, merely giving you an answer based on the info you have provided.
You say you rarely use it because of the number of flashes you get. This suggests that you have used them several times in the past and want to use it more than you do. I have never had to use mine and judging by the response of other drivers behind you strongly suggests you are not using it appropriately .
Rule 211 of the Highway Code:
211: You MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 201) as they dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves.
http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/21.htm
Maybe you should stand behind your car with your fog light on and see how long it takes before you get a headache. We are not making assumptions, merely giving you an answer based on the info you have provided.
You say you rarely use it because of the number of flashes you get. This suggests that you have used them several times in the past and want to use it more than you do. I have never had to use mine and judging by the response of other drivers behind you strongly suggests you are not using it appropriately .
Rule 211 of the Highway Code:
211: You MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 201) as they dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves.
http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/21.htm
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