What are fog lights and when should you use them?
The difference between Fog light and headlight light, and when you should use them.
Fog Light:
The clue is in the name – fog lights are designed to aid visibility in, well, fog. Fog lights are supplementary lights that can be used along with your headlights in low-visibility conditions.
Aside from fog, you can also use fog lights when driving during heavy rains or dust storms. fog lights are there to aid the driver in several low visibility conditions where the standard head and taillights aren’t powerful enough to keep you seen and safe.
Heavy fog, rain, and other weather conditions that reduce your visibility on the road can make driving difficult—if not downright impossible. If your vehicle isn’t equipped with the right lighting equipment, driving in these conditions can lead to hazardous situations, which in turn can result in serious or even fatal accidents.
This is why fog lights are essential additions to your vehicle. These are entirely different from your regular headlights and have a very specific use.
Fog lights are normally installed low, 12 to 30 inches above the road surface, and pointed downward to illuminate the ground beneath the fog.
Headlight Lamp:
Car headlights are the lighting system mounted in front of the car to provide illumination, particularly during low-visibility conditions like nighttime, fog, or heavy rain. They are sometimes called headlamps. There are various types of headlights, each with unique features and benefits.
Beyond their primary function of improving driver visibility, headlights enhance vehicle safety by making the car more visible to other road users. Modern car headlights integrate advanced technologies, offering improved efficiency, brightness, and lifespan compared to earlier models, reflecting the continuous evolution in automotive exterior lighting.
When to use fog lights?
Fog lights are useful when your visibility is decreased such as when it snows or there is thick fog or mist covering the road ahead. They can also help when there is heavy spray on the motorway.
Using your high beams in these conditions can actually reduce your visibility as the bright light reflects off the fog or mist, making it even harder to see ahead.
The Highway Code states that you must not use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. Using this terminology means that this is a requirement and not a recommendation.
This is because incorrect use of fog lights can dazzle road users, while rear fog lights can obscure your brake lights. The general rule is that you should only use them when you cannot see more than 100 metres ahead. The Highway Code also states that you must switch both front and rear fog lights off when visibility improves.
Front fog lights can help you to see the road ahead when visibility is poor. Just as importantly, they make it easier for traffic coming the other way to spot you. The same goes for vehicles waiting to pull out from a junction up ahead. They help you to see and be seen.
Rear fog lights should always be switched on whenever visibility is poor, they are there to alert other road users of your presence.
Fog lamps are supplementary lights and can be used in conjunction with your headlights in low-visibility settings. However, they are not designed to take the place of your regular driving lights as they have a very short range.
Can LED lights be used as fog lights?
Although LED lights can be installed on fog lights, traditional fog lights have unique advantages due to their strong penetration ability, while LEDs are known for their energy saving and high brightness. LED fog lights can operate stably in high temperature environments up to 60 degrees or more. In contrast, traditional incandescent lamps can only work at temperatures of about 40 degrees. This significant high temperature resistance makes LED fog lights more stable and reliable in performance. The advantages of LED fog lights are obvious: they are energy-saving, have a long service life, high luminous efficiency, and are very durable.
As a cold light source, LED lights do not generate heat. However, yellow light is not widely used in LEDs, so it is not suitable for use as fog lights. Although LED lights have many advantages, they cannot completely replace traditional fog lights in certain specific situations.
Fog lights usually use yellow light because of its long wavelength, long irradiation distance, and good transparency in bad weather conditions. However, when used in normal weather conditions, its strong light may interfere with the sight of the opposite driver.
The original intention of the rear fog light was to make it easier for the rear vehicle to find the car in front in low visibility environments, such as fog, snow, rain or dust.
So, while LED daytime running lights have their own unique uses, they cannot replace traditional fog lights in all situations.
Can you use fog lights as headlights?
No, you cannot use fog lights as headlights. Since their beams are aimed downward and typically have a shorter range than headlights, they will not provide the necessary illumination for low-light conditions. Many state statutes require you to use fog lights in addition to low beams while driving.
Where should you mount fog lights?
The specific placement of aftermarket fog lights will differ based on the type, make, and model of the vehicle.
Cars and SUVs: Aftermarket fog lights for cars and SUVs are typically mounted to the front bumper around 10-24 inches above the ground level and underneath the headlight assembly. Some car models have a removable front bumper insert that can be detached and replaced with a compatible fog light kit. Look at your owner’s manual and see which option is best for your vehicle.
Trucks: Truck fog lights can be mounted to the front bumper, front valance, or grille guard. You will want to make sure your fog light kit is compatible with your valance or grille guard before purchasing.
Off-Road Vehicles: Aftermarket fog light kits are very popular for off-road vehicles, such as Jeeps and Broncos. Your vehicle model will often require a vehicle-specific set of fog lights. They can be mounted to the front grille guard or front bumper.
Do all cars have fog lights?
No, not all cars have fog lights. Typically these lights are added onto the vehicle package as you go up in trim level. Certain off-road vehicles, such as Jeeps and Broncos, have their own supplementary mounting equipment for adding fog lights to the vehicle exterior.
White vs Yellow Fog Lights
White and yellow fog lights each offer their own benefits. Yellow light reduces glare and is gentler on the eyes because it reflects less off water particles. It is also easier for the human eye to focus on yellow light than a bright white light. On the other hand, some drivers argue that white light appears brighter and adds more clarity to the road. Whichever color you choose, LEDs are able to provide the right color based on your preference. LED fog lights are available in white, yellow, and amber.
