Why get wound up over foglights + a little test?
Discussion
I've always wondered why so many folks here and out on the roads seems to be so upset when other road users use front fog lights.
They don't dazzle because they are wide beam and aimed low on the road. If it improves another drivers safety whilst driving on poorly lit roads who the hell are we to appoint ourselves as traffic cops?
People even flash you when it is foggy or pooring down with rain and spray etc FFS, why so anti?
So, I did a little test this morning. I drove in the dark and a little later half light with no lights on at all.
And ....not one single person flashed me in 35 minutes of driving.
Therefore, it appears to be far more socially acceptable to drive dangerously without any lights when it's dark than it is to use fog lights when it is foggy or pooring with rain.
Funny old world eh!
They don't dazzle because they are wide beam and aimed low on the road. If it improves another drivers safety whilst driving on poorly lit roads who the hell are we to appoint ourselves as traffic cops?
People even flash you when it is foggy or pooring down with rain and spray etc FFS, why so anti?
So, I did a little test this morning. I drove in the dark and a little later half light with no lights on at all.
And ....not one single person flashed me in 35 minutes of driving.
Therefore, it appears to be far more socially acceptable to drive dangerously without any lights when it's dark than it is to use fog lights when it is foggy or pooring with rain.
Funny old world eh!
You have a very good point.
No, there's little logic in getting wound up about foglights...
...yet I still do!
If I am sat lower, as in the TVR, they annoy me. But less so than the fantastic lights of say a Yamaha R6 or R1. And then again, when I had an R6 I am sure I dazzled most other road users (even if only for that millisecond I was behind them!
)
However tolerant I try to be about others on the road, foglightsd still manage to rile me.
But I couldn't explain why.
No, there's little logic in getting wound up about foglights...
...yet I still do!
If I am sat lower, as in the TVR, they annoy me. But less so than the fantastic lights of say a Yamaha R6 or R1. And then again, when I had an R6 I am sure I dazzled most other road users (even if only for that millisecond I was behind them!
) However tolerant I try to be about others on the road, foglightsd still manage to rile me.
But I couldn't explain why.
The thing with front fog lights is that some at least are very bright and can dazzle oncoming traffic. I think a lot of people who drive around with their front fogs on do so because they think it looks cool. Just about every lax-power motor I come across at night has it's front fogs on.
Now car manufacturers are picking up on the "coolness" of front fogs. I saw an ad for (I think it was a citreon) saying free upgrade to sporty front fog lights. What the hell is "sporty" about fecking fog lights??????
Now car manufacturers are picking up on the "coolness" of front fogs. I saw an ad for (I think it was a citreon) saying free upgrade to sporty front fog lights. What the hell is "sporty" about fecking fog lights??????
Vipers said:But then again, similar to being stationary behind another vehicle where the driver can't manage to put the handbrake on and "TURN HIS F***ING BRAKE LIGHTS OFF"
Front fogs! no probs, see and be seen, but those high intensity rear lights, WHEN VISIBILITY AINT REDUCED, drive me insane, does hurt the eyes when some clown in front has them on, thats when I gently flash to attempt to convey to them that they are on.
...and breathe...
That's another action that may, technically, be an offence but inconsiderate or ignorant drivers still do it.
Still irrational to be upset by it though!
beano500 said:
Front fogs! no probs, see and be seen, but those high intensity rear lights, WHEN VISIBILITY AINT REDUCED, drive me insane, does hurt the eyes when some clown in front has them on, thats when I gently flash to attempt to convey to them that they are on.
But then again, similar to being stationary behind another vehicle where the driver can't manage to put the handbrake on and "TURN HIS F***ING BRAKE LIGHTS OFF"
...and breathe...
That's another action that may, technically, be an offence but inconsiderate or ignorant drivers still do it.
Still irrational to be upset by it though!
Didnt realise I was irrational, now I know, thanks for that!.....
Perhaps we should start a campaign.
We'll call it the "Kentish Campaign" in his special honour.
Let's make a special point of visibly laughing out loud and pointing to anyone who has forgotten to turn their FFLs off in daylight.
((There! Pass it on to 50 people in your Outlook and threaten that each of them must do the same or you'll have some unfortunate incident befall you!))
Kentish said:
They don't dazzle because they are wide beam and aimed low on the road.
Nonsense. Many people, especially contact lens wearers, experience a 'halo effect' around very bright lights. Before I had laser eye surgery, I found fog lamps very dazzling, especially in the twilight.
Fog lamps in non-foggy weather do serve a useful purpose though - they warn other road users of the presence of a total numpty who's more concerned with posing than with driving carefully and considerately.
both front and rear FOG lights are for use in FOG or situations of reduced visability
why do you want to use them any other time?
there supposed to point down and not have illegal 100 watt bulbs in them - the majority for whatever reason do dazzle when used in clear conditions
i'm assured by a traffic cop its an offence to use them when conditions do not warrant them [not sure this is so] i personally would like more people using dipped headlights at night and not foglights and if its illegal to use them nick them! and the ones who put them on when they have a bulb out
infuriates me
why do you want to use them any other time?
there supposed to point down and not have illegal 100 watt bulbs in them - the majority for whatever reason do dazzle when used in clear conditions
i'm assured by a traffic cop its an offence to use them when conditions do not warrant them [not sure this is so] i personally would like more people using dipped headlights at night and not foglights and if its illegal to use them nick them! and the ones who put them on when they have a bulb out
infuriates me
wall!!!!!DrSeuss said:
They don't dazzle because they are wide beam and aimed low on the road.
Nonsense. Many people, especially contact lens wearers, experience a 'halo effect' around very bright lights. Before I had laser eye surgery, I found fog lamps very dazzling, especially in the twilight.
Fog lamps in non-foggy weather do serve a useful purpose though - they warn other road users of the presence of a total numpty who's more concerned with posing than with driving carefully and considerately.
Yep, they really dazzle me.
My Simple solution is to drive on main beam at anyone coming towards me with fog lights on.
Its usually people thinking 'oh don't I look cool with my fog lights on'.
They serve no purpose during normal driving, SO TURN THEM OFF!!
Yes, I'd have to agree about rears.
The only time I ever use them is (in fog of course) when there are no cars close behind and I'm on a faster piece of road. If a car comes up behind and follows behind they'll get switched off.
Rear fogs are often nearer eye level on modern cars and can be really distracting.
I only ever really use the front fogs if it's extremely foggy or on poorly lit/unlit wet roads when it's completely dark and raining. I never use them in dry conditions unless visibilty is very poor due to fog. Even under these conditions other road users still get annoyed and flash.
Even in the low TVR, other road users fog lights were no problem. Headlights were far more dazzling, especially when they need proper alignment on some cars.
The only time I ever use them is (in fog of course) when there are no cars close behind and I'm on a faster piece of road. If a car comes up behind and follows behind they'll get switched off.
Rear fogs are often nearer eye level on modern cars and can be really distracting.
I only ever really use the front fogs if it's extremely foggy or on poorly lit/unlit wet roads when it's completely dark and raining. I never use them in dry conditions unless visibilty is very poor due to fog. Even under these conditions other road users still get annoyed and flash.
Even in the low TVR, other road users fog lights were no problem. Headlights were far more dazzling, especially when they need proper alignment on some cars.
I tend to find that people with their front fogs on also tend to have headlights on as well and drive in an aggresive manor. M3 or scroat laxpower drivers mainly. wait for backlash
What gets up my back is rear fog lights on as if to say 'keep away from my car' as I dont want to be rear shunted... TBH I feel like smacking them up the back just to teach them a lesson.
What gets up my back is rear fog lights on as if to say 'keep away from my car' as I dont want to be rear shunted... TBH I feel like smacking them up the back just to teach them a lesson.
Was well foggy the other day, up over North Leeds way.
My car can only have the rear one on if the fronts are on, so when I was last in a queue in thick fog, I had to bung the fronts on to get the rear one on.
As soon as another car joined the queue, off they went though, just to normal headlights.
Only real time you need foglights is on your own, in the unlit rural roads, where there are no other drivers visible, and you need to see the verges.
I think just use them sensibly. Too many people DO use them to look cool, but they are using them incorrectly. It's like me driving around with my hazards on to stand out more and be "safer"
Enough is enough, and for driving around in mildly light traffic in a lit city or urban area, who ACTUALLY needs fogs?
OK on an empty road, navigating using the verges which you light up using the low wide angle fogs. Rest of the time they just have the potential to glare other drivers which isn't really a good idea full stop in poor visibility conditions.
Don't ask me why more people flashed you with fogs on, but hey, other people are weird. Doesn't mean you have to be.
Dave
My car can only have the rear one on if the fronts are on, so when I was last in a queue in thick fog, I had to bung the fronts on to get the rear one on.
As soon as another car joined the queue, off they went though, just to normal headlights.
Only real time you need foglights is on your own, in the unlit rural roads, where there are no other drivers visible, and you need to see the verges.
I think just use them sensibly. Too many people DO use them to look cool, but they are using them incorrectly. It's like me driving around with my hazards on to stand out more and be "safer"
Enough is enough, and for driving around in mildly light traffic in a lit city or urban area, who ACTUALLY needs fogs?
OK on an empty road, navigating using the verges which you light up using the low wide angle fogs. Rest of the time they just have the potential to glare other drivers which isn't really a good idea full stop in poor visibility conditions.
Don't ask me why more people flashed you with fogs on, but hey, other people are weird. Doesn't mean you have to be.
Dave
DrSeuss said:
They don't dazzle because they are wide beam and aimed low on the road.
Nonsense. Many people, especially contact lens wearers, experience a 'halo effect' around very bright lights. Before I had laser eye surgery, I found fog lamps very dazzling, especially in the twilight.
Yes, I wear contact lenses too and the "halo" effect you describe is caused by wearing the lenses for too long and your eye drying out, or the shape of the lens is incorrect for the curvature of your eye and the centre of the lens is slightly raised and you don't disperse the tear beneath it properly. I had this problem and had to change type of lens.
Sorry but I though that may be helpful to some fellow lens weareres who have the same problem.
Back on topic....
The fog lights if adjusted properly should be no more dazzling than a standard front headlight. Perhaps you have been driving towards people with driving lights fitted in their bumpers rather than fog lights.
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