Cars with "Fog" Lights on at lowbeam.

[peber]

Out of interest, what do people think of motorcycles then, since their headlights are always on?
It's not really an issue during the day, but I've had comments from friends when I've been following them on the bike about how much light they get (mainly in their mirrors) when I lean in on a corner (obviously because the angle of the beam changes relative to the road).

[Matty]

hey matty... little test for you.
park your car somewhere dark, nice and flat etc.
Get a friend to string out a trip line somewhere between the front wheel and drivers mirror. (while you arent looking)
All car lights off.. stand about 20m in front of your car let your eyes adjust then walk at a decent pace towards your car.. step over the trip line when you see it.
Now have them move the trip line.
Turn fog lights on, stand at the 20m mark again and look towards your car, let your eyes adjust again then walk at the same pace.. and try to see the trip line in the shadow after you pass your cars fog lights..
(have the friend ready to catch you on the foglight test)

uuhhh....ok.

I think I'll just leave this here for you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light

If you see a white Impreza driving around with their fog lights on bluefire, say hi to me

[c0mc0]

Out of interest, what do people think of motorcycles then, since their headlights are always on?
It's not really an issue during the day, but I've had comments from friends when I've been following them on the bike about how much light they get (mainly in their mirrors) when I lean in on a corner (obviously because the angle of the beam changes relative to the road).

Absolute non-issue for me. AFAIK, it is a legal requirement for them to drive with low beams on and it has never annoyed or dazzled me in many years of driving.

[Scarface.au]

Speaking of fog lights - car I passed had them on yesterday... was an FG falcon for those playing at home..

Anywho, this car blinds me to the point that I barely can see the kangaroo that is about to become my hood-ornament... Luckily enough, I was already aware of that particular stretch of road and was able to avoid it. The fog lights seriously impaired my vision compared to the low-beams that were on the falcon.

Please, please, PLEASE take due diligence and only drive with fog-lights when absolutely necessary.. that could have cost me $5k just because I couldn't see

[Hotblack]

I wonder if it has ever occurred to those supporting the use of bright lights that sensitivity to light varies from person to person?

I have albino maculas and unexpected bright light can be rather painful.

Finally you have revealed your weakness!

Seriously though, fog lights are for fog

If you think you look cool driving around town with your fog lights on, you're not, you're a douche bag.

Especially if you drive the stupid commodores with the dumb LED strips for fog lights....

[Gamer87]

If you think you look cool driving around town with your fog lights on, you're not, you're a douche bag.

Your mum thinks im cool...
If you're stuggling to drive when people have fog lights on, then you really shouldn't be on the road in the first place.

[c0mc0]

Speaking of fog lights - car I passed had them on yesterday[...]this car blinds me to the point that I barely can see the kangaroo that is about to become my hood-ornament[...]The fog lights seriously impaired my vision compared to the low-beams that were on the falcon...

...you're a douche bag.

Your mum thinks im cool...
If you're stuggling to drive when people have fog lights on, then you really shouldn't be on the road in the first place.

Yep. Gotta agree with Hotblack on this one.

Except for the bit about LEDs. They are nowhere near bright enough to blind someone. However, the strips that they seem to have tacked onto the HSVs and Commodores at the very last minute, well after the designer had gone home, do look stupid, I agree.

The difference between fog lights and those LEDs is that the later are not designed to assist the visibility of the driver at all. They are purely there for other drivers to see.

[Gamer87]

The difference between fog lights and those LEDs is that the later are not designed to assist the visibility of the driver at all. They are purely there for other drivers to see.

You know, that sounds real logical. I would have to agree with you there.

[ashman1991]

You realise that using such lights has been proved in many studies to statistically reduce the risk of a two vehicle collision?

Originally, no, I didn't. But the 4 or so posts above yours went through that for me.

Anyway, I was just saying the LED light type is douchey, not blinding.

[MaddMoose]

They're running lights, if we keep following the Euro car standards like we have been they will be mandatory for all new vehicles and can't be turned off.

[Werewolph]

I've got 85% vision in my right eye, and 20% vision in my left, with partial night blindness and light sensitivity. I don't often drive during the night times, but for when I have to, I like to use my fog lights since it helps illuminate where the lines are on the road, (doubly so if it's wet, which is a lot here in QLD). Thankfully in my Impreza, I can turn off the rear and only have the front fog lights on, to reduce the amount of nuisance I'm causing.

[Cozi]

My foggies are always on. They are the just the factory standard (VZ Calais) but nothing that anyone should be concerned about.

Fully aware it is illegal to do so but imo its just one of those stupid laws as I have never seen it enforced nor have I ever head someone that has been fined for it.

If it was really that big of an issue all they need to do is start enforcing it. I have gone through a few booze buses at night and im sure if it was of major concern I would be told.

/me touches wood.

[Instinx]

depends on the car i suppose (I know my Subaru Liberty RX 2000 foggies face downwards and to the side, to help illuminate the side markings), however whats pissing me off is people just driving around town with their low-beams on... yes i know every single person does it but why do we bother to have streetlights? Its super annoying to have 100s of lights just constantly shining into your eyes from every damn direction; thats why they have 3 settings - lightbulb (basically same purpose as the LEDs?), low beam and high beam. I think that seriously needs a rethink... Its like people driving in thick fog with their high beams on, do they not realise its actually making it worse?

[Omni]

What foglights are you talking about, factory fitted or those giant 4x4 ones?

I have factory fitted fog lights on my Impreza. I drive around town with them on all the time. And will probably continue to do so.

If people are can't drive because of my fog lights being on, they probably don't have the capacity to operate a motor vehicle in general.

I believe he is referring to those lights mounted closer to the road, intended for use when your main headlights are doing a better job at lighting up the rain/fog and generally making it impossible to see the road clearly because of the 'white-out'.

The problem with such fog lights is that they are not shuttered or focused just on the road (as your main headlights are). Thus when used in combination with your headlights, even though they are down low, the total light output tends to be far too bright for oncoming drivers. To use them when you don't need to is hazardous to safe driving and frankly inconsiderate. They are illegal to use when not required for a reason. I would suggest that if you are driving around using them improperly without thinking of the consequences to other drives, it is not the other drivers' ability that should be in question.

I tend to react the same as if someone is driving at me with high-beams on - they get a flick of my fog lights, and if that doesn't give them the hint they get a flick of my HID high-beam. I don't like taking it to that extreme, but a quick flick is far better that having to drive into oncoming fogs+headlights for several tens of seconds.

Brings up another issue - people who fit aftermarket HIDs without shuttering the lenses. The spill from a halogen headlight is tolerable, the spill from a poorly installed HID is not.

[Omni]

If it was really that big of an issue all they need to do is start enforcing it. I have gone through a few booze buses at night and im sure if it was of major concern I would be told.

They actually had a blitz on it in Sydney about 4-5 months back. Were warning drivers using the highway message boards, and pulling over cars with "wanker-lights" on (as a DSC friend in Qld used to call them).