Hey! You! Turn Your Damn Fog Lights Off!

"Blake Noble" (no-bull) 04/06/2014 at 15:00 • Filed to: None

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In Christianity, there are only seven deadly sins you can commit: wrath, lust, greed, sloth, gluttony, envy and pride. In the Sacred Religion of Motoring however, the list of capital vices you can succumb to while behind the wheel is seemingly endless: chatting on a cell phone and going any amount under or over the posted speed limit are among the many evils.

One evil on the list brightly stands out among the others however, almost blindingly. And like drunk driving, tailgating or failing to yield before lethargically puttering onto a double-nickel highway, this particular sin could very well send you to the icy bowels of the Ninth Circle to play poker with a grieving Lucifer — driving with your fog lights on when fog is suspiciously absent.

Here's a situation that I know we've all encountered: It's late at night and you've finally made it through yet another gruesome day at work. And because your day was terrible, you have a slow dull headache lazily making dinner out of your temples. You're stressed, tired and want to go back to your quiet home located conveniently away from the noise and hatefulness in the cold heart of the Big City.

Driving conditions are excellent and traffic is very light on the way home. You unwind a bit now, your headache starts to fade. That's when you notice a blip of light swiftly approaching you in your rear view mirror.

You shrug it off at first, but before you know it some heathen sociopath in a massive SUV is breathing down your neck, the front of his grotesque four-wheel drive covered wagon lit up like a Colorado Christmas tree; both his headlights and fog lights are on. The glare is horrific and induces your headache to return, and it's decided your cranium is an all-you-can-eat buffet. Until you reach your driveway, you have to tolerate this peon who seems to insist that, despite obvious evidence to the contrary, visibility is so poor he needs to be recognized as a celestial body by NASA.

Now this where I would continue to rant and ramble about how much fog lights irritate me and so on before I plea and beg for other drivers to repent and keep them off unless the proper circumstances present themselves. But that's not going to do the job alone. Nope, this time I'm bringing a small number of burly-chested facts along to crash the party.

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In the example above, the sadist behind the wheel of his truck-based whale shark seems to think that his fog lights also double as driving lights. Well, let me be the first person to say that's wrong, wrong, wrong.

So what exactly is a fog light? Or a driving light? How are they different? Grab a cup of coffee, a good beer or whatever else you need to get you through this possibly pedantic and very factual lesson. It isn't exactly curt and dry (rev up your keyboard, Old Biff, I said that just for you).
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!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , a fog light is "an automobile headlight throwing light of a color intended to diminish the effect of fog, dust, etc., in the air." Fair enough, but I'll be completely honest, the dictionary's definition leaves something to be desired.

For starters, OEM fog lights rarely throw "light of a specific color" these days. While at one time they used to cast what's known as "selective yellow" light — !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! — most modern fog lights cast white light instead. The reason for the change is partially cosmetic, but it's also because the amount of glare selective yellow light reduces is actually negligible.

Fog lights are also intended to be mounted low on a vehicle (at least in the front bumper) and the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . This is, theoretically, what makes a fog light useful in poor weather conditions such as, well, fog as well as snow or heavy rain: the low mounting position and specific illumination.

A driving light on the other hand is, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , an auxiliary high-beam light "fitted to provide high intensity light to enable the driver to see at longer range than the vehicle's high beam headlamps."

I like Wikipedia's definition here for the most part except for one thing: it doesn't mention where a set of driving lights should be positioned. In comparison to a set of fog lights, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , typically just above the bumper and ideally below the headlights.

Confused? Luckily, the two Jeep Patriots above will gladly illustrate the visual difference between the two.

Short answer: No, fog lights are not driving lights, nor are they substitutes for them. Don't use them unless you're driving over the Golden Gate Bridge at six in the morning, or if you suddenly find yourself in the middle of a snowstorm in Minnesota. Don't turn them on if you can see the cheese on the moon's surface or if it's in the middle of the day.

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Fact Two: The NHTSA Does Not Regulate Fog Lights, Never Has

Here's some food for thought: Headlights, taillights, and center hi-mounted stop lights (CHMSLs, aka third brake lights) !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Unlike other automotive lighting systems, fog lights are not regulated by either institution and only have to meet !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! which, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , are "outdated." After all, the SAE's root criteria does date back to sometime during the Great Depression.

Say what you want about the NHTSA and DOT, if fog lights were federally regulated, there would be stringent modern standards as to how a fog light would function. I'll also hedge a bet here and say that, if either the NHTSA or DOT started regulating them, many designs on the market wouldn't be up to snuff. But, because the fed is strangely absent here, that brings me to our next fact ...

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Fact Three: They're Not As Useful As You'd Think

So, how effective are fog lights anyway? Before we answer that question, let's recap what we've learned so far.

1. Fog lights must meet the following criteria:

Project a beam of light with a sharp cut-off at the top so that they illuminate "below" a vehicle's low-beam headlights.

Be mounted low on the vehicle, typically in the front bumper if not somewhere lower.

2. The DOT and NHTSA do not regulate the performance, functionality nor safety of front fog lights.

With that in mind , few fog lights are likely useful in poor weather conditions because: a.) automakers often tend to take liberties with how they design them and where they position them (after all, Uncle Sam isn't telling them what to do); and b.) the very nature of some vehicles prohibit them from being useful in the first place.

With regards to point a, let's use the outgoing Ford Mustang GT as an example since its the one I find the most irritating. When you spec your Mustang with the GT package that includes the 5.0 Coyote V8 and some big wheels, Ford throws in a pair of fog lights as part of the deal. Usually considered by Ford fans to be a nice retro touch, the Mustang GT's fog lights are placed in the grille immediately next to the front headlights like the original from 1964˝.

Now reference the criteria above. See the problem already? Sure they look cool, but after your done welling up over your grandpappy's old Mustang you'll quickly realize that Ford didn't throw in a set of fog lights as part of the deal. And before you say it the answer is no: they're not driving lights either, they're really mounted too high up. So what Ford has really done is given you something as pointless as breast implants on George Clooney.

It's also that same criteria that explains point b. Because the DNA of vehicles such as pickups and SUVs makes them tall, one equipped with fog lights is only good for causing headaches. And unless you want to mount them on the bottom of the oil pan, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! either.

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Porsche 918s Don't Have Fog Lights: Other Miscellaneous Facts and Observations

The party isn't officially over until someone urinates in the punch bowl. And I'm afraid that time has come. So I'm going to wrap this up with the following shower of golden information.

In 2012, British insurance firm Swiftcover reported that !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . This is in a country where drivers can be fined for doing so, so I can only imagine what that same study would look like here in the States where we don't.

Some drivers say that they like to flip on the fog lights on their Nissan Versas and Honda Civics because they think it looks cool. Okay, whatever. You want to know what looks cooler than a Nissan Versa with its fog lights on? A Porsche 918. And a Porsche 918 doesn't offer fog lights even as an option at any price. Neither does any other supercar or hypercar on the market that I can think of.

For a second, imagine a world where fog lights aren't optional equipment. It's a pipe dream, sure, but if the demand for fog lights suddenly fell off of the face of the Earth tomorrow, that would spell the end of big gaping flesh wounds on the face of every entry level car built.

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ignitionist.com | Follow me: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! | Contact me: theignitionist@gmail.com

therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) > Blake Noble 04/06/2014 at 15:04

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They don't offer fog light on supercars because they are low enough already.

Milky > Blake Noble 04/06/2014 at 15:09

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Fogs on all the time, get at me bro.

AthomSfere > Blake Noble 04/06/2014 at 15:10

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Wow, no idea anyone hated fog lights.

Future proposal, replace all foglights and drive at night with these instead:

Because offroad lights a) serve a real purpose b) look even cooler and c) are unregulated!

signintokinjalol > Blake Noble 04/06/2014 at 15:13

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Oh look hun, it's another one of those morons with their fog lights on.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Blake Noble 04/06/2014 at 15:13

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I've found that my yellow fog lights make spotting potholes easier than the white ones did. The yellow is also a call back to the French resistance of WWII.

Hindered23 > Blake Noble 04/06/2014 at 15:15

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fog lights don't really bother me either unless it's a truck or large vehicle and literally tailgating me

Gimmi-Sagan-Om-Draken > Blake Noble 04/06/2014 at 15:23

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Personally I just want the factory headlamps to stop being insanely bright. I don't know how it can be legal to be that bright. I was behind a new Audi SUV and the LED brake lights were eye level and very bright, I am virtually blinded by most new German cars these days on curves in the mountains.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Blake Noble 04/06/2014 at 15:24

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Our Ford Flex has it's fog lights mounted down at the very bottom of the front of the car, and they are definitely aimed down enough to not be a nuisance. As such, I usually leave them on.

Firewrx234 > Blake Noble 04/06/2014 at 15:37

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I've used fog lights often on my previous cars because A) the headlights on late 90's/early 00's GM cars most likely came from the used lights in dimly lit bars and B) they helped me see where the actual lines on the road are and C) they looked amazeballs.

Fisher > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) 04/06/2014 at 15:40

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On top of that, why would you add the weight? There could have been a better example used here by the author.

Fisher > Hindered23 04/06/2014 at 15:41

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At that point the headlights are just as bad. I had to tint my back window to not feel like I was being searched at night by all the trucks in my area.

GoliathRex > Gimmi-Sagan-Om-Draken 04/06/2014 at 15:55

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This. I wear my sunglasses at night, turn all mirrors out, and it is still terrible with poorly pointed aftermarket lights, tall SUVs, and the aforementioned Germans all over the place.

Blake Noble > Fisher 04/06/2014 at 16:07

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:)

Blake Noble > Milky 04/06/2014 at 16:12

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Timmy - MINI With a Big Blower > Blake Noble 04/06/2014 at 16:25

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I drive around with my fog lights on at night, but my car is low enough and the lights aren't crazy bright. I don't think they are at least.

captain_spleen > GoliathRex 04/06/2014 at 16:33

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I found that yellow lenses made bright headlights less painful. They cut out the blue wavelengths, which many of the brightest lights have in abundance. And the yellow lenses still let lots of light through, so they don't interfere with seeing the road.

captain_spleen > Blake Noble 04/06/2014 at 16:37

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I'd think driving lights would be worse.

Also, fog lights shouldn't be a problem unless the car using them is riding particularly high, or has them mounted particularly high.

IMHO people with super-bright headlights, people with badly aimed headlights, and people driving with high beams on, are much worse.

I often drive with fog lights on in my Juke, but mostly to accentuate the spider face.

Milky > Blake Noble 04/06/2014 at 16:47

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Because my car is too old for DRL's, they help illuminate the lane I'm in at night & looks better IMO.

The Compromiser > Firewrx234 04/06/2014 at 17:12

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Drive my chaRger exactly likE this? AmaZeballS and a half. Its A thinG in mY area. We Always drive like this.

GoliathRex > captain_spleen 04/06/2014 at 17:20

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Good call. I have a set of sports sunglasses with amber lenses that work wonderfully in this respect.

JACU - I've got bonifides. > Blake Noble 04/06/2014 at 17:29

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RazoE > Blake Noble 04/06/2014 at 18:35

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my old Supras. U mad, bro?

Maybe they shouldn't be called fog lights, they should be called auxiliary lights. There the end argument over.

Biodegradable Wiring Harness > Blake Noble 04/06/2014 at 19:22

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I'm curious how fog lights cause 300,000 accidents a year, if the whole point of them is to reduce glare... maybe they mean driving lights?

Blake Noble > RazoE 04/06/2014 at 21:25

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I'm mad, but only mad that you have a Supra.

Blake Noble > Milky 04/06/2014 at 21:28

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Actually, I believe adding DRLs to your Crossfire is as simple as buying and installing the headlight switch/module from a Canadian model. ;)

Milky > Blake Noble 04/06/2014 at 21:43

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Ha, didn't even know that … but I'll just keep using the fogs!

Blake Noble > Milky 04/06/2014 at 21:56

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Rory > Blake Noble 04/06/2014 at 22:05

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" Some drivers say that they like to flip on the fog lights on their Nissan Versas and Honda Civics because they think it looks cool. "

I just want the JDM guys to like me :(

Blake Noble > Rory 04/06/2014 at 22:19

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Don't worry. I'll still like you, even if you do drive with your fog lights on.

Buick Mackane > Blake Noble 04/06/2014 at 22:50

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I also hate it when I see someone with their fog lights right on my back bumper. I do what I always do when I see blazing fog lights behind me, I just slow down and make the guy behind me stay there as long as I can. So, next time you shine your fog lights on me (and it is not foggy) and you see someone blocking you on purpose, it's probably me.

Fisher > Blake Noble 04/06/2014 at 23:20

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Care to enlighten me?

RazoE > Blake Noble 04/07/2014 at 09:39

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I had 3..:D Great cars, but their age is starting to show. The sealed beams were SHIT on these cars. Plus it did look good with just the fogs on.

Scorpio GTX1 > Biodegradable Wiring Harness 04/07/2014 at 15:51

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Yeah, that's a bullshit statistic if I've ever heard anyone. Not once in the article do they mention how driving with fog lights on could potentially be dangerous, nor do they indicate how they determined these accidents were actually caused by fog lights. 100% pure bullshit statistic.

Scorpio GTX1 > Blake Noble 04/07/2014 at 15:53

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This is complaining for the sake of complaining. Not once have I ever seen someone driving with fog lights on and thought, "This is dangerous!!1!!1!one!!!" HIDs are another story, however.

Gamecat235 > Blake Noble 04/07/2014 at 18:35

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Drove with em on all the damn time.*

*On my Rav they turn on with the headlights if they are selected, and turn off with the headlights when they are turned off. I developed this habit when I worked the opening shift and had to be at work before 4:30 AM and needed more peripheral illumination for wildlife and joggers when it was damned dark on unlit or poorly lit streets.

And since my terminating and originating destination were in these types of conditions, I kept em on for the entire drive. No apologies, no cares, and I know for certain that unless you were laying on the ground or I was driving when it was wet, that I didn't blind anyone, not even Elise drivers.

Rory > Blake Noble 04/07/2014 at 19:21

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Oh stop ! You will make me blush!

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Blake Noble 04/09/2014 at 14:46

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Umm...you obfuscate the real issue.

Improperly aimed lighting sources.

I don't care if it's dipped beam, main beam, or auxiliary beams (driving or fogs), if they are improperly aimed, THAT is what causes the problem.

If your fogs are aimed in the bottom fourth to third of the dipped beam output (which is normally how things are done), then they are FINE, because they won't throw the light up. Placing the lights low in the bumper accomplishes this with a reflector lamp.

However, misaimed low beams (dipped beams) are awful. When they are either allowed to throw light high, or not controlling glare, that is dangerous. Even worse are the bro trucks with stupid lifts, and the lights are not adjusted properly.

For those of us who drive cars low to the ground, this makes you want to shoot the lights to stop them from blinding you constantly.

And the worst lighting offence?

Using your high beams (main beams) as a substitute for replacing a low beam lamp. Suspiciously present in the Southern US. This is never acceptable.

mazdaspeed2 > Gimmi-Sagan-Om-Draken 04/09/2014 at 21:49

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I am so glad you said this I thought I was the only one. It seems like the lights on other cars get brighter every time I drive at night. SUVs and the Germans are the main offenders that I have noticed as well, especially the German SUVs.

nauyop > Milky 04/10/2014 at 22:31

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I think it's because that DRLs are required in Canada, but judging from the year of the Crossfire models, I think they'll be looking like fog lights instead of a strip of LED.

Kylemaro > Blake Noble 04/10/2014 at 22:32

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proper "foglights" aren't even supposed to be white/blue/silver/clear whatever you wanna call it light, they should have a tint to them. yellow/orange to actually cast a more distinct light through thick fog and not only help you see but be seen. i have a set of yellow...... i have no idea actually, 80s model fogs on my z28 (makes it look a bit like an iroc) and while i use them at night they are not blinding to other drivers i'll add a pic when im done editing the plate out

old picture, man that paint had seen better days

Kylemaro > Rory 04/10/2014 at 22:41

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you gotta civic man, everyones gonna hate

polird > Blake Noble 04/10/2014 at 22:43

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I for sure don't run my fog lights often, but I do run them in the rain or if it's a dark back road. The aren't bright and very close to the ground, so they aren't much more than a soft glow to oncoming traffic, but they help illuminate the lanes in rain and give people an extra dimension to perceive distance if it's too dark to see the car. But purple xenon fog lights should be illegal.

Also, the contrast between the white HID headlights and warmer halogen fog lights look awesome.

Doctor-G-and-the-wagen > Blake Noble 04/10/2014 at 22:44

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Don't be the guy driving a freaking second gen xB (the B stands for "bleah" )

UpIrons > Blake Noble 04/10/2014 at 22:47

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I have foglights on my car but I keep them off mostly out of sheer laziness because I know how much of a pain in the ass it is to change them out. I would rather never use them than get used to using them only to have them burn out sooner and need replacing.

Milky > nauyop 04/10/2014 at 23:00

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Yea, too old for LEDs. I wonder if they just have the low beams on all the time, would probably be the easiest thing to do.

Method82 > Blake Noble 04/10/2014 at 23:00

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My fogs are on at all times in my MKV GTI. Deal with it. The real problems are those who drive with their HIGH BEAMS on when they shouldn't be (in fog, behind me, coming the opposite way) and driving in the rain without headlights on at all. A law in many states.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Blake Noble 04/10/2014 at 23:12

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I don't really care about cars leaving fog lights on, but shitty brodozers with aftermarket lights/xenons and soccer moms in MDXs with the highbeams permanently on.

or

dirgle > RazoE 04/11/2014 at 00:29

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Yep, I roll with the fogs on, if the if the low beams are on. The MKIII or whatever car I'm in. Honestly find the fact that the OP gets so worked up over lights funny. Anything I can do to improve the lighting condition of my car I'll do. So he can just deal with the fog lights. There are far bigger things in this world to get worked up over.

Maxaxle > Blake Noble 04/11/2014 at 00:30

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This. This is the best .gif image ever.

VQ35 > The Compromiser 04/11/2014 at 01:10

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you are so cute....

wolfye30 > Blake Noble 04/11/2014 at 01:59

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On 24/7, Sue me!

JoelA237 > Blake Noble 04/11/2014 at 02:14

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I have never had this thought.. I've driven absolutely slammed cars, and lifted jeeps over the years, the only thing that bugs me is HID's in plain halogen housings, and asshats that don't know how to dim the headlights when they meet you on the highway.

offroadkarter > Blake Noble 04/11/2014 at 02:22

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the fog lights on the mustang GT, at least the old halogen units as I haven't driven one with the LED's, are literally bright and wide enough that you don't need headlights at night. I compared the halogen fog lights to the halogen headlights on a 2011 GT and the beam width and intensity was damn near a perfect match.

Useless? They might as well be secondary headlights. Unlike the fog lights on my dads avalanche which are powered by parking light bulbs.

JDIGGS > Blake Noble 04/11/2014 at 02:41

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what a douche. I have an old vw that they provide more light in, but it is a turd beater.

Hey question;

If fog lights don't really work in fog which they don't unless not stock (very rare), why the hell would you complain about people using them when not foggy? Many cars automatically turn them on is another point ya dummy.

JDIGGS > Milky 04/11/2014 at 02:42

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yea what an idiot, I might see him in the rain when he is pulling out and it could save our lives, you moron.

Honestly Blake how old are you? It makes me question how much life experience you have? Also who told you that the way you choose to do things is the right and only way for everyone? Are you from a religious background?

Tritip > Kylemaro 04/11/2014 at 03:22

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The yellow/orange argument is more myth than anything. Actual science has shown it not to be true to reduce glare and as such white (4300k) is the best for most output (lumens) per watt and the proper positioning of the light creates the most effective approach to fog lighting.

Cliff8928 > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 04/11/2014 at 03:37

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100% agree.. And there's no fixing the glare from most of those lights they sell at the local parts stores, they're usually clearly marked "off road use only" which gets ignored!

biturboism, the cult > Blake Noble 04/11/2014 at 06:05

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In Europe they are forbidden to use unless there is, you know, FOG . Many actually blind oncoming traffic and this can easily be tested with your eyes after a storm or fog clears and people still haven't turned them off.

Also, the rear fog light on my Pug can be as blinding as a laser aimed at your retina, and at night it can be used to punish high-beamers and tailgaters. Not that it should. Because it's illegal .

timgray > Milky 04/11/2014 at 07:21

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Riding around with the rear fogs on is the worst.

OneMatt > Blake Noble 04/11/2014 at 07:32

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You didn't even address the REAR fog lights on most German cars. Typically, they only exist on one side of the car, making the car look asymetric and ugly. Also, its like the person has their brakes on ALL THE DAMN TIME.

Tomek G > Blake Noble 04/11/2014 at 07:46

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I think your post should focus more or misaligned lights than anything else. I use my fog lights all the time (they are yellow too) and they are pointing DOWN to help illuminate immediate road. I seen idiots point them up (makes them useless in fog). Fog lights make potholes more visible for me and they look cool.

The bigger automotive sin is IDIOTS driving with DRLs instead of HEADLIGHTS and playing invisible ninja on highways

designerbation > Blake Noble 04/11/2014 at 08:12

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Advanced LED headlamps>foglamps.

Until I can get those, I'll be keeping my fogs on. The yellow hue helps me to see the potholes I'm about to hit.

jstump > dirgle 04/11/2014 at 08:49

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Seriously, is the OP 90 years old with sensitive eyes or something? The only time I am irritated is when people have their REAR fog lights on because it make it look like they are braking ALL THE TIME. Front ones have NEVER bothered me unless some douche nozzle put HIDs in them. I drive with mine on all the time because it helps pick out animal eyes on the sides of the road. You mad brah?!

jstump > Scorpio GTX1 04/11/2014 at 08:59

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Agreed, screw all the assholes in lifted trucks who spend hundreds, maybe thousands on making it an "Off Roader" only to be insanely cheap on the headlights and just toss an HID kit in a halogen housing, which because they are lifted are pointed directly at your eyes. Write an article about those people. Fogs however never bothered me.

Carwood > Blake Noble 04/11/2014 at 09:33

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In defense of someone who does it often..ive driven at/infront of my own car before and have had zero issues with them being a hazard (only OEM - nothing aftermarket that can kill a vampire). Frankly, there are some standard beam lights coming straight from the factory now a days that are beyond an issue. Nevertheless you do make a good point though the infractions do really vary depending on the vehicle..which brings us to another issue which is that operators should understand what exactly they are driving and how to do so properly.

Insurance Joe > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 04/11/2014 at 09:41

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Exactly right. I cannot recall ever having a problem with someone using factory installed fog lights.

danlove > Blake Noble 04/11/2014 at 09:41

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Now I'm going to buy some foglights for my car that doesn't even have some on there and run them all day out of spite.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Blake Noble 04/11/2014 at 09:55

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Ummm..driving lights are white, fog lights are yellow.

If your car came with stock driving/fog lights when high beams go on they should automatically turn off to help out other drivers....

RazoE > jstump 04/11/2014 at 09:58

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Luckily we don't have those in the US. Except on the Oldsmobile Aurora.

Milky > timgray 04/11/2014 at 10:19

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Rear fogs? WTH? That must be european thing ….

timgray > Milky 04/11/2014 at 10:31

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Nope I see them on a lot of US cars. Many of the last oldsmobile Aleros made have them, low red very bright tail lights. Every newer Audi has them, and newer BMW's.

The Tesla has them, Last two years of Ford Mustang, Fiat 300, Mercedes, Lexus, They are highly common in the USA now.

Milky > timgray 04/11/2014 at 10:40

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As a US resident, I don't think I've ever seen them. Is it just some way to turn your reverse lights on?

Who the hell who do that?

jstump > RazoE 04/11/2014 at 10:43

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False, I rode behind an Audi SUV the other day the had them and wanted to hurt the driver. I believe quite a few German cars have them because they are a standard in Europe.

Jonathan Harper > Blake Noble 04/11/2014 at 10:47

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But my car looks way more baddass when I have the fogs on...

Runs on recycled dinosaurs > Blake Noble 04/11/2014 at 10:51

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I love driving with every light on on the front of my truck, the pinball show on the other side of the road is fucking hilarious.

timgray > Milky 04/11/2014 at 11:15

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No, that would cause accidents, they are bright red rear facing lights. and as a Michigan Resident, I see them all the time, I see them more when I travel I-80 to Chicago.

RazoE > jstump 04/11/2014 at 11:15

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Maybe they activated them? I remember my neighbor's 3 series had a plug in the socket that would have been for the rear fogs. I know the center brake lights on my IS300 are used as rear fogs in Canadia [sic.] and You-rup

jstump > RazoE 04/11/2014 at 11:19

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I have seen it more than once though, do a Google image search for "rear fog lights in the usa" and you will see a few of late model German cars with them on that have US plates.

langadamd > Blake Noble 04/11/2014 at 12:08

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I would only drive with my fog lights on if it was actually foggy or visibility was shit. But for some reason they just don't work anymore, and I haven't missed them...

GanjaTwister > Blake Noble 04/11/2014 at 12:29

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Oh, and don't forget that even when they're properly aimed and used in fog/rain, the drivers are all traveling too quickly to do ANYTHING about what might be illuminated by them.

If you need your fog lights, you should be traveling under 25 MPH.

That Guy > jstump 04/11/2014 at 13:17

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I don't get his rage either. My Dakota was the first vehicle I had with factory fogs... I rarely had to use my high beams - thus irritating less people in my opinion. My F-150 also has them and I run with them all the time for get this... Visibility... So others notice me more. Same reason I added lights to my bike. I've had a million vehicles behind me running their factory fogs and I've never been irritated. Assholes using their aftermarket KC hi-lites? Yes, irritating.

The problem indeed is when some jackoff adds those stupid fucking blue tinted or high temp color bulbs to their car...It is just plain fucking irritating and even more so when they stuff an after market HID kit in them. I have even seen assholes driving around with purple headlights and just the other night... yellow. Why they don't get pulled over is beyond me.

McLarry > Blake Noble 04/11/2014 at 13:21

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Had no idea these were such a point of contention :P

The only real reason you cite for not leaving them on all the time, though, is that they give you a headache when they're shining in your rear-view mirror...can't say that's hugely compelling. Most foglights are so close to the ground or tilted down so as to illuminate the area of the road directly in front of the car and aren't particularly bright as compared to normal headlights, so I'm a little confused why they cause you so much angst. I can commiserate that bright headlights from SUVs are often at just the right height so as to reflect straight into my face, but I've never been that bothered by the foglights specifically.

Call me crazy but I kinda enjoy the sense of occasion that comes from actually using my foglights...always have. My car also has a funky 'rear foglight' which kinda just looks like an extra brake light from the back but only on one side...weird European thing apparently, but not a bad idea.

Oh, and Mustangs look miles better with those lights in the grille...who cares if they're not that practically useful :P

NastyKnate > jstump 04/11/2014 at 14:12

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the rear fog is supposed to be only one rear light. i think in NA most get the 2nd bulb put in when the car is certified. my fathers volvo and benz have 2 for that reason

vickwutitdo > Blake Noble 04/11/2014 at 14:59

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i ONLY use my fogs on my 13 Mustang GT....look way better in my opinion and they don't shine in peoples mirrors like my driving lights do. I can still see fine with the fogs.

vickwutitdo > vickwutitdo 04/11/2014 at 15:00

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I have also noticed when i just use my driving lights, they are so bright, people tend to flash their brights at me.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Blake Noble 04/11/2014 at 15:29

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Coming very very late to this thread, but I use my foglights from time to time sans fog with my Benz. Why? Because my main-beams suck, and the diffuse dull-yellow fogs my car has illuminate much better down and to the sides close to the car. They're certainly no brighter or more malignantly aimed than my normal low beams, but work well as a supplement.

The Compromiser > VQ35 04/11/2014 at 19:04

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Kinja broken, watch for finger

4typhive > Blake Noble 04/11/2014 at 19:13

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OP,

If your post was on people who run their high beams in the well lit areas or people who run HIDs in halogen housings, you may have had a chance.

Tarukai > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 04/11/2014 at 20:24

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I promise you that using highs as a sub for replacing lows is just as prevalent up north here, and it's absolutely shitty of the people who do.

VQ35 > The Compromiser 04/11/2014 at 22:37

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Please speak in complete sentences. Thank you.

The Compromiser > VQ35 04/12/2014 at 07:44

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only speaking bumper sticker. EAD.

Rory > Kylemaro 04/12/2014 at 09:14

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Stance guys seem to gesture gang symbols at me quite a bit, I think they want to be friends.

Kylemaro > Rory 04/12/2014 at 09:58

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thats a slippery slope

VQ35 > The Compromiser 04/12/2014 at 11:36

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Ok, loser....

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Blake Noble 04/13/2014 at 01:16

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I loved the last aftermarket fogs I had. I installed them behind the bumper cuz I didn't want to cut it.

Freakpunk54 > Blake Noble 11/13/2015 at 09:59

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oh stop your cry baby whining! Seriously? Fog lights which are supposed to have a sharp cut off in front of the low beams are blinding you? The ones that you just said point at the ground? I’m sorry but I find that extremely hard to believe... I think you just want to complain about something for the sake of complaining....

Free me from Perpetual Pending > Blake Noble 07/24/2016 at 21:42

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Amen brother for you seeing the sickness of the light. I doubled my foglight wattage and aimed them up and to the left. All the fogheads pay the price when I’m coming at them.

Dorian > Blake Noble 01/02/2017 at 17:08

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Mine are on permanently on my 2015 F-150, and it doesn’t blind other drivers. The new F-150's also have better foglights though, with a cutoff line similar to headlights, so they don’t shine everywhere or into other people’s eyes. Not all foglights are created equal, some shine everywhere, and some have cutoffs to prevent glare. Educate yourself before bashing something, because they’re not all the same.