fog lights

[5029]

is it against the law to drive with fog lights on in drizzle/rain?

 

I know its bad courtesy and dangerous to other drivers, but some people insist on doing it!  can they be prosecuted for it?

[Jay70]

Hi 5029,

I've recently been trying to find this out myself and have looked at various web pages and it's all a bit vague.  The highway code states this:

 'use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling other road users.
Law RVLR reg 27  

  I dont however seem to be able to find a quoted figure of what the visibilty range has to be down to to be able to use them.  When I took my driving test (1987) I'm sure there was a figure qouted for this.

[Miss Zippy]

A friend of mine received a fine (think it was �30) for driving with his fog lights on when it wasn't necessary. Visibilty has to be 'seriously impaired' for the use of fog lights to be justified, which it wouldn't be in rain or drizzle.

[woofgang]

well surely that depends on the heaviness of the rain or drizzle ansd when does drizzle become fog?? I agree though, people who use them when there is clearly no need are a pain

[happy_face]

It says in the Highway code that Fog lights MUST only be used if visibility is less than 100 metres

[Ewood27]

I have fixed in my mind, though I don't know where it came from, that the restrictions apply to lights with a centre less than 22 inches above the ground.

[k8tkoo]

agree with happy_face - it's definitely if visibility's less than 100m, remember my driving instructor telling me when learning to drive.

[Jay70]

Just thought I'd mention that a lot of people get confused between fog lamps and driving lamps.  They can both look similar to on coming traffic due to there positioning on the front of the car but their light patterns are different.  Driving lamps can be used at anytime just as headlamps can.

[5029]

I was referring to the back fog lights which many drivers insist on turning on when its not foggy, therefore dazzling other drivers

[Didwot]

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 provide
"Reg 27.����No person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road any vehicle on which any lamp, hazard warning signal device or warning beacon of a type specified in an item in column 2 of the Table below is used in a manner specified in that item in column 3:
Front fog lamp
(a)��Used so as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other persons using the road.
(b)��Used so as to be lit at any time other than in conditions of seriously reduced visibility.
(c)��Used so as to be lit when a vehicle is parked.
Rear fog lamp
(a)��Used so as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to the driver of a following vehicle.
(b)��Used so as to be lit at any time other than in conditions of seriously reduced visibility.
(c)��Save in the case of an emergency vehicle, used so as to be lit when a vehicle is parked."
Cant do the columns so I hope you can make sense of it.

[hopalong]

If you can see the car in front without it's fog lights then the driver behind you can see you. (Unless it's a female driver)

[ianess]

Agreed, it`s discourteous and dangerous to the driver behind, but can I say in defence of Ford Escort drivers that, when driving normally it is impossible to see the fog light warning light because of bad dashboard layout.

So, apologies to all those I`ve inadvertently blinded.

As an aside......why on earth can`t manufacturers just fit bulbs with a lower wattage than brake lights but still higher than sidelights [parking lights]?