fog lights

[davidc]

Just some legal advice wanted guys,
I have just read in our local paper that a driver can be fined for having ther fog lights on in 'clear' conditions. Are we, the general public, supposed to know about this, and what would the definition of a 'clear condition' be?

[Arith]

Just some legal advice wanted guys,
I have just read in our local paper that a driver can be fined for having ther fog lights on in 'clear' conditions. Are we, the general public, supposed to know about this, and what would the definition of a 'clear condition' be?

Not sure about other states, but in NSW it's technically illegal to have foglights on when there is no fog or extremely poor weather conditions. However unless you're a total wanker and give whoever pulls you over a lot of attitude, they normally don't bother with it because I'd say at 20% of cars on the road have them on outside of bad weather.

[Fangin_RX]

Well i was reading the newpaper and it said have your lights on during the day to make ur car more seeable within the other cars. So arent they promoting using headlights/Foglights to be used during 'clear' conditions

[wassell2381]

over here in WA its been in the newspaper a couple of times about in appropriate use but its a load of crap. I was sat behind a copper the other day and he didnt mention anythin. Its not in forced so who cares!

[modern_messiah]

Well having jsut bought my Liberty and it been the first car with Foggies I drive with them all the time. I've had my brother, my gf, her sister, and 2 of my best mates PLUS my dad all tell me it's illegal. Then my car nut mate rocked up and said not to worry about it because he drives around with them on all the time and has'nt been done for it for over 5 years now despite having more speeding fines than all of the above mentioned people combined (90% of them on the spot).

I am in QLD but I really would not worry about it. I have never seen it written anywhere so in all honesty if the cops get up you for it play dumb...and don't be a douche to them!

[tangcla]

I haven't been done either.


Team HID Fogs represent

[davidc]

I'm in SA and the Advertiser stated that there were 155 fines given out totalling $22K over the past 12 months. I believe the police should broadcast their 'unsafe' use to the masses so that we are not stung with a fine through our own ignorance...

[gumbyy]

At an RBT a sheila cop says 'has it been foggy?' and I said 'no' and she said 'it's illegal to have them on them, please turn them off' and I said 'ok' and that was it

[swingn]

I know of a few people who have been done for driving around with fog lights on - Or people who have been called out for having fog lights on - & generally speaking it's not the fog lights that draw the attention

As Jim Boy said, in NSW, technically if there is no reason to have the fog lights on, then it is illegal to have them on. Of course, when I'm driving on the free way late at light, I feel there is reason to have them on

Ethan, it's not so much they are promoting fog light use, more that using your driving or headlights even during that day (Especially when the weather is like it is today) can be most helpful when it comes to visibility to other cars. I know that Volvo's in the 1980's used to have there driving lights hard wired as a safety measure... Kind of the same principal as to why motor bikes have their head lights hard wired.

To be honest, I think having the driving lights hard wired is a good safety measure & I have no idea why more car companies don't do it... Or at least have auto head lights so the car can decide when more light is needed...

[DJC]

For those of you in Vic:

Fog & driving lights

Using fog or driving lights at the wrong time can make it difficult for other drivers to see. Incorrect use of fog or driving lights can result in a fine and loss of points from your licence.


Using fog lights
Front fog lights are designed to better illuminate the road in fog, snowfall, rainstorms or dust clouds. They can be recognised by the narrow pattern of light emitted.

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.

Fog lights cannot be accidentally switched on. They must be switched on separate from the main and dipped beam head lights.


Using driving lights
Driving lights are designed to illuminate the road over a long distance. They are the same as the high beam (main beam) head light and emit the same lighting pattern.

Road Rule 218 states that drivers must not use the high-beam headlights when driving:

* less than 200 metres behind a vehicle travelling in the same direction
* less than 200 metres from an oncoming vehicle.


Driving lights cannot be accidentally switched on. They can only be switched on and off with the high beam head lights.

As taken from VicRoads.

Our lights do nothing in the fog anyway. They need to be yellow to have any visual affect. I would say ours are more like driving lights that we have manual control over.

[Arith]

LOL! I don't know of any car manufacturer who riggs their driving lights to only come on when you turn on your high beams.

[Roddez]

LOL! I don't know of any car manufacturer who riggs their driving lights to only come on when you turn on your high beams.

Yep, a number do. A Toyota Corona and Pugeot 205 had the Driving Lights wired up to come on with the Hi Beams. I have even considered doing it on my Liberty...

As for lights on during the day, when I head out of town, I turn my lights on during the day. It makes your car much easier to see from much further away, especially if you have a dark coloured car. Next time you head out toward the Blue Mountaings on the Great Western Highway, have a look out for the signs that encourage lights on during the day.

[tmacca]

There seems to be a lot of "mis-information" out there about fog lights. Yes, in most states it is illegal to use them unless there are fog conditions or significant weather conditions that justify their use.

If they are true fog lights there is little value in having them on in non-fog conditions (unless you like the appearance of all your lights on). A true fog light has a wide flat beam (with a sharp top vertical cut off) to light under the fog. They need to create as little glare as possible (thus putting high beam and fog lights on would be illogical because the high beam will create a lot of glare off the fog - so automatic fog/high beam is illogical). Also, the amber fog lights are really designed for extreme fog conditions (such as the addition of snow to the equation which creates additional glare). It also allows on coming traffic to see you. In most situations a white fog light is in fact a better light because the white light will illuminate more consistently (the amber light can lose some dark colours).

These comments are about road use - rally use is a bit different, but I won't go into that.

[SpecB]

For those of you in Vic:

Fog & driving lights

Using fog or driving lights at the wrong time can make it difficult for other drivers to see. Incorrect use of fog or driving lights can result in a fine and loss of points from your licence.


Using fog lights
Front fog lights are designed to better illuminate the road in fog, snowfall, rainstorms or dust clouds. They can be recognised by the narrow pattern of light emitted.

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.

Fog lights cannot be accidentally switched on. They must be switched on separate from the main and dipped beam head lights.


Using driving lights
Driving lights are designed to illuminate the road over a long distance. They are the same as the high beam (main beam) head light and emit the same lighting pattern.

Road Rule 218 states that drivers must not use the high-beam headlights when driving:

* less than 200 metres behind a vehicle travelling in the same direction
* less than 200 metres from an oncoming vehicle.


Driving lights cannot be accidentally switched on. They can only be switched on and off with the high beam head lights.

As taken from VicRoads.

Our lights do nothing in the fog anyway. They need to be yellow to have any visual affect. I would say ours are more like driving lights that we have manual control over.

This is totally correct for all states. Liberty's are fitted with "driving lights" not fog lights. Fog lights cast either a yellow light (pretty much only good in the snow or frost) or a wider lower beam.

Be as polite to the cops as you can and that way they'll let you off but if you get pinged and want to fight it the above amo is what you'll be after.

[Ric]

...
Fog lights cast either a yellow light (pretty much only good in the snow or frost) or a wider lower beam.

A "wide low beam" is exactly how I'd describe my foggies. I've used them in fog up at Mt Buller.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fog_lights#Front_fog_lamps