Fog Lamp Distance

scribbly · 15-04-2008, 01:53 PM

Here in Victoria we're allowed to drive around at night with the fog lights on all the time (not driving lights). I've noticed the lighting distance is quite minimal and when I queried the dealer he stated that it's only meant to illuminate a couple of metres in front and side.
Is that everyone else's experience or am I being misled?

TheColonel · 15-04-2008, 02:09 PM

The dealer is right, they are FOG lights, which are meant to be low set and of low light levels so as to light the ground to either side of the car so you can see the white lines driving in fog...

scribbly · 15-04-2008, 02:19 PM

Ok that makes sense. I guess I was spoilt in the Territory where it seemed to have a greater distance. It could have been the vehicle's height above the ground that made it seem like more distance.

jared79 · 15-04-2008, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheColonel

The dealer is right, they are FOG lights, which are meant to be low set and of low light levels so as to light the ground to either side of the car so you can see the white lines driving in fog...

Hey Colonel, Do you know if we can drive with them on in Queensland. I see alot of people driving with them, but I am unsure if they are legal or not.

TheColonel · 15-04-2008, 06:03 PM

No idea... I do, just about every other car on the road does, if it was illegal then surely the local revenue raising arm of the govt would be out fining every man and his dog... drive with the rear fog light on though and i'll personally come over and box ya in the nose... that's one of my pet hates, especially those excel drivers!!!!

paulie0735 · 15-04-2008, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheColonel

No idea... I do, just about every other car on the road does, if it was illegal then surely the local revenue raising arm of the govt would be out fining every man and his dog... drive with the rear fog light on though and i'll personally come over and box ya in the nose... that's one of my pet hates, especially those excel drivers!!!!

I hate em too, but than I also hate those who drive with the front ones on, can't wait for fog lights to be 'out of fashion'

:

GT0132 · 15-04-2008, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulie0735

I hate em too, but than I also hate those who drive with the front ones on, can't wait for fog lights to be 'out of fashion'

:

You'll find it's not everyones intention to have the front lights on...If you have your auto head lights switch set to on, headlights will often come in when they don't need to....i.e sometimes in good daylight...Well thats what i've found anyway.

jared79 · 15-04-2008, 08:45 PM

Don't get me wrong, I have been driving with the front ones on and I have passed and been passed by many cops who don't seem to care. But I would never put my rear one on, unless of course I am in thick fog, but that doesn't happen often in Brissie. I do like the look of cars with the four lights on the front, makes it look tough. Sorry Paulie0735, but I like them.

monkeyboy666 · 15-04-2008, 10:16 PM

Kind of related - does anyone know where the sensor for the auto headlights is? Don't get me wrong, I think that they are a cool piece of kit - drive into a tunnel or into an underground carpark and the lights are instantly on which is nice, but I've noticed that they do have a quirk. If I'm driving east in the late afternoon (about an hour from sunset) so the sun is behind me lowish in the sky but still really bright and shining in the direction that I am heading in - certainly not dark enough to need the headlights, they do invariably come on.

I assume that the sensor is at the front of the car, and that the car body is shading it and making it think its darker than it is. If the road turns and the front of the car points more towards the sun then they go off again... until the next corner!

I guess the same thing would happen just after sunrise if I was driving in a westerly direction. I might have to test that out some day.

I hate Excel drivers with their one bright rear foglight too - I guess they are just trying to be like the BMW drivers who turn their foglights on the second they leave the showroom and never turn them off again, but not having front foglamps just have to make do with the rear one.

scribbly · 16-04-2008, 09:44 AM

Isn't the sensor the black knobby looking thing in the middle of the dashboard at the base of the windscreen??? It was in the Territory.

jared79 · 16-04-2008, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkeyboy666

but not having front foglamps just have to make do with the rear one.

Hold on Monkeyboy, are you saying you don't have front fog lights? I am pretty sure you do. Only the LR sedan doesn't have fog lights. But you have a TDCi don't you?

monkeyboy666 · 17-04-2008, 05:59 AM

Hi Jared, no I DO have front fog lights and I even used them yesterday morning because it was foggy!

The bit you quoted was me talking about those Hyundai Excel owners who don't have front foggies and so can't drive around everywhere with them permanently on (like BMW 3 series owners...) , so they make up for it by turning on the single back one that they DO have instead. It looks really lame and is annoying when behind them.

Treny · 10-05-2009, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scribbly

Here in Victoria we're allowed to drive around at night with the fog lights on all the time (not driving lights). I've noticed the lighting distance is quite minimal and when I queried the dealer he stated that it's only meant to illuminate a couple of metres in front and side.
Is that everyone else's experience or am I being misled?

Better check that I was stopped in Echuca Victoria and was let off with a warning but told in no uncertain terms that it is illegal to have fog lights on at night unless there is fog present.

LRsedan · 10-05-2009, 01:30 PM

I find the mondeo fog lights don't provide any useable light during the night anyway, so I leave them off.

Also when using the fog lights in fog, remember to turn your main headlights to the 'parker' position, it makes it easier to see.

Katoomba · 10-05-2009, 01:53 PM

Where I live in the NSW Blue Mountains we have lots of foggy days and nights and I find the front fog lights invaluable - they really do the job.

cammag · 10-05-2009, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Treny

Better check that I was stopped in Echuca Victoria and was let off with a warning but told in no uncertain terms that it is illegal to have fog lights on at night unless there is fog present.

Same here in QLD. Bloody unlucky to get pulled up on it. Nice of them to let you off with a warning too.

There is adjustment to on the fog lamps to lift and lower the beam. If they were aimed too low this could help.

apstar · 10-05-2009, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LRsedan

I find the mondeo fog lights don't provide any useable light during the night anyway, so I leave them off.

Also when using the fog lights in fog, remember to turn your main headlights to the 'parker' position, it makes it easier to see.

errr isn't that illegal at night!
apstar

LRsedan · 11-05-2009, 07:48 AM

Only during fog you can do it...
So you would have the fog light on, and parker lights on, headlight off.

Too much light in the wrong areas makes it harder to see. Like putting the highbeam on in fog.

Fog lights should be off at all other times, and regular headlight used.

**russellw** · 11-05-2009, 08:42 AM

Just for clarification - in Victoria

"Road Rule 217 states that drivers must not use front or rear fog lights unless driving in fog or other hazardous weather conditions that cause reduced visibility"

It would be a stretch to think that this included night time driving.

Cheers
Russ

Katoomba · 11-05-2009, 01:34 PM

From the NSW Drivers' Handbook:

Quote:

Fog Lights
Front and rear fog lights must only be used in fog or rain, or when conditions such as smoke and dust limit your vision. It is a legal requirement that once conditions improve and you can see more clearly, the front and rear fog lights are switched off.

scribbly · 11-05-2009, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Treny

Better check that I was stopped in Echuca Victoria and was let off with a warning but told in no uncertain terms that it is illegal to have fog lights on at night unless there is fog present.

But look when i posted to the forum - April 2008! The law changed after that as was quoted above.
I still use them when at night to help spot roos. If I get picked up for it I'll just say that I drove through fog earlier on - how are they going to disprove it?
Today was drizzle & fog so I used the fogs today also. It certainly makes you more visible to other traffic.