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.
- Jun 16, 2020
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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
John
- Jul 15, 2008
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......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.
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.
- Nov 11, 2009
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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.
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- Nov 11, 2009
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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!
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 !
On the fog lights subject, I think they are good for showing up potholes in the dark as they are mounted lower down !
- Mar 14, 2005
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Strictly the lights that operate when you turn the steering wheel are not front fog lamps they are selective side illumination and are governed by different rules. Fog lamps are specifically designed for use in fog and other times when the atmosphere is loaded with particulate or water droplets which impair visibility.
- Jun 16, 2020
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My handbook on that particular car was specific. According to MG they are fog lights and they illuminate when the fog light switch is operated .
They may therefore be dual purpose.
Google AI, (which may be incorrect), states.
AI Overview
Learn more
Some cars use fog lights as cornering lights, activating them when the steering wheel is turned or the turn signal is engaged, especially at low speeds. This feature illuminates the area diagonally in front of the car, improving visibility in turns and helping to identify potential hazards. However, fog lights are primarily designed for use in low visibility conditions like fog, and using them as cornering lights is not a standard function on all vehicles.
Elaboration:
- Cornering lights:
Some cars have a feature where the fog lights, or a specific bulb within the fog light assembly, act as cornering lights.
- Activation:
These cornering lights activate when the steering wheel is turned or the turn signal is used.
- Low speed usage:
The cornering function is typically designed for use at low speeds, such as when navigating city streets or roundabouts.
- Improved visibility:
The cornering fog lights illuminate the area diagonally ahead of the car, providing a better view of potential hazards in the turning direction.
- Alerting other drivers:
The activation of the cornering fog light can also alert other road users to your turning intentions.
- Not a universal function:
Not all cars have this feature, and even if they do, the fog lights might not be the primary source for cornering illumination.
- Mar 14, 2005
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Even here the turning light is identified as a separate function to fog light. The turning bulb happens to share part of the fog light assembly.
They can be designed for both functions.
There's no separate bulb for the two functions in my Touareg's case - the two functions are handled by the canbus switching.
The higher trim versions of Touareg also have a cornering function built-in to the main beam lighting - brilliant on fast twisty roads.
- Nov 11, 2009
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Prof this is an AI generated answer and it covers itself by saying that some may have a separate bulb within the fog light assembly, so that leaves it open for the fog lights to act as cornering lights.
- Jun 16, 2020
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It says ‘or’.
But your point is taken, different function would normally be designed differently. But manufacturers will attempt to combine functions and use them as cost saving while at the same time providing the opportunity of selling points.
My car has neither front fog lights or cornering lights. I I don’t miss them.
John
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