Indicators on cars

[RogerL]

Is that also the claim for the next to useless ornamental front fog lights? Not sure, but I think on many cars then headlights need to be on for the fog lights to operate? I have not driven in thick fog for a number of years and have to admit I have no idea how to switch them on as have not bothered to check. My bad!

I've no idea how "most" cars are wired but the whole point of foglights is to use them with headlights off, otherwise the reflected glare defeats the object.

 

[Dustydog]

On what basis then is the condemnation of them determined?
I have over the years a lot of fog, mainly night time driving experience.
My preference is driving on dipped driving lights, only in quite recent years have I had dedicated fog lights as well.

This depends IMO on whether discussing the front or rear variants, the rear, again IMO clearly are, the fronts where mine are placed right down on the front spoiler well below the day time and parking and driving lights, IMO are primarily there to help my driving vision.

But as the Prof has explained Fog and its water droplets reflect and refract the light. They have never helped me see any better. At best I found they illuminate virtually nil

 

[Buckman]

On what basis then is the condemnation of them determined?
I have over the years a lot of fog, mainly night time driving experience.
My preference is driving on dipped driving lights, only in quite recent years have I had dedicated fog lights as well.

I spent many years on the road in my younger day clocking up thousands of miles and mainly motorways. Even a former traffic officer on this thread states they are useless and he should know better than any of us mere mortals.

 

[Jcloughie]

On many cars nowadays, the low level fog lights also work with the steering, coming on to illuminate a corner. I had them on my last car. Complete waste of time. They can also cause confusion to other road users. I saw one the other day that was operating on a nearly straight road. His fog lights were flashing with small turns of the wheel.

John

 

[Gafferbill]

......I'm with Hutch and JTQ and some what surprised that many find front fog lights useless.
Fo me front fog lights are to assist you to see better in foggy misty conditions.
They are designed to give a wider and much flatter beam that adds to the beam pattern of dipped headlights.
The full benefit comes to drivers who slow down in such conditions as they do nothing to aid distant forward vision.
IMO they should be called wide angle lights!

......also IMO rear fog lights should have been limited to only one light placed on the centre line of the vehicle's bumper.
Then no confusion with brake lights and only the last vehicles up ahead in a queue would have their fog lights visible to those following.

The one rear fog light in the centre and low down, is used on my current Swift caravan.

 

[otherclive]

I've no idea how "most" cars are wired but the whole point of foglights is to use them with headlights off, otherwise the reflected glare defeats the object.

Well that doesn’t work that way for my Kia, Toyota or Subaru. But I can’t think if I would have had headlights off even when I fitted the yesteryears cars with Hella fogs and long range driving lights. Headlights have to be on before rear or front fog lights are enabled. But surely you would drive with the headlights on dipped beam in fog irrespective of whether you had front fog lights or not. As full beam just reflects back on you, and the dipped beam can be of some use.

 

[toad a caravan]

My mates got five cibies with a 70's mini hiding behind them 😄

 

[otherclive]

My mates got five cibies with a 70's mini hiding behind them 😄

Off to Monte Carlo we go in winter 👍

 

[Hutch]

On my Santa Fe, you can have the front fog lights ON, with just the sidelights and DRL's this works very well in fog and mist, the main Beam lights reflect back from the mist.

 

[RogerL]

Well that doesn’t work that way for my Kia, Toyota or Subaru. But I can’t think if I would have had headlights off even when I fitted the yesteryears cars with Hella fogs and long range driving lights. Headlights have to be on before rear or front fog lights are enabled. But surely you would drive with the headlights on dipped beam in fog irrespective of whether you had front fog lights or not. As full beam just reflects back on you, and the dipped beam can be of some use.

I've generally found that front foglights plus sidelights gave the best visibility in fog or falling snow - they're mounted lower down which reduces the relected glare - BUT - I'm going way back using Cibie Oscar or Wipac rectangular foglights - in those days dipped beam wasn't good even with Wipac Quadoptics.

My more recent cars with built-in foglights have also had "projector" headlights with a flat Z-beam - perhaps why I don't rate modern foglights.

My VW Touareg uses the front foglights as turning lights, useful at slow speed but prone to passers-by stopping me to say one of my foglights isn't working!

 

[arossco]

When Vauxhall changed from trafficators to flashing indicators in 1955 with the Cresta/Velox/Wyvern, there was an article about it in the Vauxhall magazine. A road safety expert said that for safety reasons flashing indicators should be positioned a good distance from other lights in order to be clearly visible. This seems like good advice !

On the fog lights subject, I think they are good for showing up potholes in the dark as they are mounted lower down !