Even if you’re a skilled driver, it’s impossible to operate a vehicle under foggy conditions. You have less time to respond to the activities of other drivers, unforeseen road impediments, and even basic turns when visibility is limited, sometimes dramatically.
In this situation, the use of headlights is ineffective. Fog is highly reflective because of the water droplets that make it up. Fog reflects the lights, further decreasing visibility. To make matters worse, driving at high speed is not an option.
Fog lights come on in this case. This does not completely cure the problem, but they are an essential element of your car’s equipment for good reason. Here, we’ll go over how fog lights operate, how to be safe behind the wheel when it’s foggy, and what to do if they suddenly stop working for you.
Read the instructions in the manual
Find and test the headlight/fog light on/off buttons on the vehicle. It’s common for the car to have two fog lights in the lower area of the front bumper, as well as one or two fog lights in the lower area of the rear bumper.
Fog lights in the back of automobiles were banned later on because of the tremendous brightness of the bulbs, which blinded others behind them. To accommodate drivers in nations where traffic is on the left, new automobiles feature a single rear fog light on the left.
Find out how to turn on and turn off the fog lights
Headlights and fog lights are only activated in specific situations to prevent them from being misused. There are no effects on fog light power buttons if there is no low beam on and the dashboard light icon is always lit.
Headlights’ indication light is constantly green, however the fog lights’ beam is disrupted by a vertical, curved line. There’s an orange indicator that tells you the rear fog light is working. In both circumstances, and on the power buttons, the indicator is present.
Fog light power buttons typically come in two flavors.
a spinning ring on the headlamp ignition lever or distinct buttons on the dashboard for each function (typically on the left side of the board, but there are exceptions).
Headlights vs fog lights
Low-mounted fog lights are often placed behind the headlights since fog is less dense at lower altitudes, making it easier for drivers to see.
Unlike traditional headlights, which produce a narrow beam of light that squints into the distance in front of you, fog lights cast a wide, low beam directly in front of your car.
For enhanced visibility, the specialized model provides illumination for the road margins and road signs. Additionally, it helps to lessen the amount of glare that is reflected back from the fog.
You can use fog lights in all kinds of weather; just remember that they operate best at low speeds when visibility is most critical.
Tips for driving in foggy conditions
1. Slow down
It’s risky when you can’t see. Keep a safe distance between you and the driver in front of you as the fog thickens.
2. Use wipers and defrosting
Water dripping from the windscreen will obscure your vision in mist. Keep the windshield clear at all times by using wipers and defrost.
3. Guide yourself by the traffic lane markings
Look to your right and left for painted markings if visibility is low, however this could impact your short-term eyesight by blaming all the headlights on cars approaching from the opposite direction.
4. Don’t stop on the road
You might be tempted to pull over if you can’t see the road. Stop as far away from the road as possible and switch off the lights if you plan on doing this. Because of this, a motorist behind you may think you’re on the road and approach you.
5. Do not use high beam during fog
The reflected light from a high beam will make it nearly hard for the driver to see the road when it’s foggy, as I previously stated. The motorist must be able to be seen by turning on the low beam.
Rear fog lights
Fog lights are now standard on many newer vehicles. European industries are the most common place to find them, as they are required by law. They’re there to draw the attention of other drivers.
The purpose of these bright red lights is to deter rear-end collisions. The rear fog lights improve visibility of your car in dense fog by illuminating the road behind you.
It is important to remember to switch these off when the fog clears, as they are extremely bright and will impede visibility for the driver in the back.
Solutions for fog lights that do not work
The majority of vehicles, with the exception of a few newer models fitted with LED fog lights, use a standard bulb that eventually burns out.
Most often, you’ll notice that one of the fog lights isn’t working or blinking if it doesn’t appear to be working. If you are unsure about your ability to solve this problem on your own, seek the advice of your mechanic.
Check the fuse
If both fog light bulbs go out at the same time, the problem is likely to be a faulty fuse. To find the fuse box and the fuse for the fog lights, consult your owner’s manual.
Remove the fuse and inspect it when the vehicle is parked. Put it back where you found it if you’re satisfied with how it looks. We need to replace it with one of the same type if the thin metal part inside is broken.
Start the engine now and see if the fog lights work. That is all that matters. Go to a mechanic if it doesn’t work or if it starts to burn again.
Replacing the bulb
It may appear straightforward to swap out a burned-out bulb with a new one, but this is not always the case. Once the bulb is removed, the base is disconnected and a new bulb is installed in the same manner.
However, the accessibility of your car’s fog lights is an important consideration. Some cars are easy to access, while others require you to go under the hood or even remove the fog lights in order to replace the bulb.
If you don’t know how to do it yourself, consult the car’s owner’s manual and see if you can do it on your own.
In the event that you can’t remember not to touch a bulb with your bare hands at all times, use a clean, dry cloth instead.
Attend a workshop if the procedure sounds daunting to you.
Know the legislation of the country in which you travel
Fog lights are not permitted in all countries or are subject to limitations. Fog lights can only be used in extreme weather conditions, such as fog, snow, or heavy rain, which significantly reduces visibility. If you break one of the country’s rules, you’ll be hit with hefty fines almost everywhere.
While breaking traffic laws can result in hefty penalties and even jail time in some countries, the proper usage of fog lights is very simple to master. The fundamentals are simple.
I’m sure I’m not the only one annoyed by the fact that some motorists fail to utilize the fog lights properly. They serve a purpose on automobiles, not to blind us during the day or at night. As bad as it is that some people don’t know how to follow traffic laws, they also don’t know how to read the manual of the car they’re driving.
Just knowing the dashboard instruments and how they work isn’t a huge accomplishment, but it’s necessary to be kind and considerate while driving. It’s hard to deny that we were irritated by the drivers who kept their fog lights on when they weren’t needed.
