How to Use Fog Lights to Drive Safely in Low-Visibility Conditions
Fog is a kind of low-lying cloud that can form in dense conditions, often resulting in reduced visibility and road awareness. Fog lights are designed to illuminate the road in these situations, helping you drive safely while traversing fog and other low-visibility conditions. They are usually found mounted on the lower part of a car’s bumper cover and can be turned on in conjunction with a vehicle’s regular headlights. Fog lights are angled sharply downward to keep the light from reflecting off the fog or other surfaces. The design of fog lights makes them different from other types of car lighting, including the headlights, as they are specifically designed to work in these low-visibility scenarios.
Most vehicles come equipped with fog lights, and you can also install them as a retrofit on some older cars. They’re intended to be used in low-visibility conditions, including fog, rain, snow, and other debris that can build up on the roads. You should only use them when the visibility drops below 100 meters (328 feet) since they don’t light up the entire road and can actually impede your vision by bouncing back off the fog or other reflective surfaces.
Aside from illuminating the immediate area around your car, fog lights will help you navigate the road in fog by allowing you to see things like lane lines and other markings. Fog lights are not meant to replace your headlights in normal driving, however, and it is illegal to drive with them on unless the visibility is poor. They should be used only in conjunction with your dipped headlights when the conditions call for them, and they should always be turned off when visibility rises above 100 meters.
You should also turn off your fog lights if you’re going to be stopping and starting a lot. They can dazzle other drivers and cause them to lose sight of your brake lights, which is dangerous if you’re slowing down or stopping in traffic. If you’re unsure when it’s safe to use your fog lights, check your owner’s manual or ask a professional.
It is not uncommon for people to turn on their fog lights when it is not necessary, which can create a glare in other drivers’ eyes and make the situation more difficult. The best way to avoid this is to only use them when visibility is extremely limited and when you can see the brake lights of other cars. Also, be sure to keep your fog lights on only when you’re driving slowly — they can make other motorists uncomfortable as well as glare against solid surfaces such as fences and buildings.
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