So What’s the Deal with Bright Fog Lights?

In recent years, most drivers have noticed a trend when it comes to car design and add-ons. Fog lights and headlights have become increasingly bright, often to the point of eliciting complaints from people whose eyes begin to hurt when they see oncoming cars approach them.

What's the deal with bright fog lights? Bright fog lights became popular after studies revealed that increased visibility reduced the chances of having a car accident. Though bright, they are angled in a way that decreases reflection, making them capable of use in extreme conditions.

If you've been wondering why so many cars are now equipped with bright fog lights, or just wanted to know why they work so well in severe weather, don't worry. Just keep reading, and everything will be clear soon enough.

Quick Navigation So What's the Deal with Bright Fog Lights?What Makes Fog Lights So Good in Fog?How Are You Supposed to Use Fog Lights?Conclusion

So What's the Deal with Bright Fog Lights?

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It's essential to recognize that headlights and fog lights aren't the same thing. Headlights are made for everyday use. Fog lights are designed to be used in weather like fog, rain, and snow. Fog lights are intended to be used for additional safety measures, rather than as a baseline for sight.

When designed correctly, bright fog lights will not blind drivers that are driving towards your car. However, they can still be somewhat annoying.

What Makes Fog Lights So Good in Fog?

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The big difference between fog lights and headlights is their brightness and the way they're angles. Headlights aren't as bright and are designed to face straight on. Fog lights are angled slightly downward, which makes them less likely to blind others. 

They're also intended to work on the street—and only the street. As a result of their round, channeled build, the light will not spread to nearby sidewalks or yards the way that regular driving lights do.

Why Are Fog Lights Angled?

Fog lights aren't just angled to prevent blinding drivers of oncoming cars; other reasons matter just as much. The reason why fog lights are positioned the way they are is that the chosen angle is less likely to reflect water droplets. 

Do All Fog Lights Have to Be Yellow?

Yellow used to be used in fog light creation because it was believed that yellow light waves have a longer reach. However, that belief has been somewhat disproved—once you add color, the light waves become shorter, according to Onyxlights (if only a little).  However, the jury is still out.  You can find plenty of arguments why yellow might not be as bright but is better on the eyes, like here.  

You can now find fog lights in almost any bright hues.  But not all colors are legal everywhere, as you can see in this interview with an officer.

How Are You Supposed to Use Fog Lights?

It's often believed that you should use fog lights whenever you need a very bright light in front of your car. However, this isn't true. These lights are meant to maximize visibility in specific situations, using precise methods. Here's what you should know:

• Fog lights are primarily designed for dense fog, rain, and snow.  Their anti-reflective properties help for the thousands of little water droplets that are suspended in air. If you are using fog lights on a dry day, you're just wasting light.  
• It doesn't make sense to use both fog lights and headlights in many cases. This can negate the anti-reflective properties that make bright fog lights useful.
  • Therefore, many modern cars now require you to use both at the same time. Whether this is due to a need for higher visibility, bad engineering practices, or because optics have been accounted for depends on the vehicle.
• The angle of your fog lamps makes a difference. A car with poorly angled fog lamps means that you won't get much use out of your fog lighting at all. If you still notice glare while using your fog lamps, consider switching to low beam headlamps instead.
• Fog lights can also be used as a visibility booster in darkly-lit roads. If you find yourself in a pitch-black street during a clear night, using your fog lights can help prevent an accident and increase road visibility. 

This video shows how you can turn them on if you haven't used them before.

Can I Use Fog Lights to Make Myself More Visible to Others?

If you're worried about others being unable to see you, you probably have considered turning on your fog lights to signal that you're there. Believe it or not, this isn't the best option. When it comes to alerting drivers of your existence, using your headlights is still the best route. 

What's Fog Lamp Etiquette?

Much like with other aspects of driving, part of knowing how to be a good driver is knowing the unwritten and unspoken rules. Fog lamps have their own code of proper use, some of which have been codified into local laws. Good rules to follow include:

• Try to avoid using them around high-traffic areas if possible. While fog lights won't usually blind others, having their brightness catch your eyes can be painful. Many drivers believe it to be rude. Check to make sure they're not on while you're driving, if only as a courtesy to other drivers.
• Drive slowly when you have fog lights on. Since they're meant for inclement weather, fog lights are best used at slow speeds. 
• Some municipalities have rules against using fog lights in non-foggy weather. Because bright fog lights can be a nuisance, some towns now have laws that bar people from using them when they're not in inclement weather. Though rarely enforced, it's still good to know. 

Are Fog Lights Necessary?

It all depends on what you deem necessary. In many cases, the use of high beams or low beam headlights can give you the same results as using fog lights. This is especially true if your car won't let you use your fog lights alone.

Usually low beams work best. Many high beams don't penetrate the fog to well. Fog lights are preferred by some who deal with low light situation frequently. 

Most drivers feel a little more comfortable knowing that they have those extra lights to fall back on. That's why they are considered a popular feature and why many people insist on having them.

But if you don't have fog lights, you can still be safe on the road by follow safe driving practices. In this video you'll see some ways to stay safe without fog lights.

Are Fog Lights Starting to Disappear?

Though fog lights are still a reasonably popular safety feature, people are beginning to get tired of them. More specifically, top luxury auto manufacturers like Audi, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, and Genesis have all been working on phasing them out of use.

According to the manufacturers, the reason why they are choosing to get rid of fog lights deals with their new headlight technology. Modern headlamps are now capable of reducing glare, providing higher visibility, and sometimes even adjusting based on weather. 

Because new headlights can do it all, there's no reason to keep fog lights—unless it's a matter of aesthetics, anyway.

Conclusion

If you were wondering what's going on with the new focus on bright headlights, the truth is that it is part of the increased focus on car safety. Since people recognize that more visibility means more safety, fog lights have become brighter and more widely used.

However, there's a caveat that you should be aware of. While fog lights can help in inclement weather or particularly dark roads, they aren't meant to be used in conjunction with headlights. This makes them work poorly for anti-glare purposes, thereby defeating the purpose of their use.

If you want to stay safe, pay attention to local laws, and limit yourself to using your fog lights during inclement weather. It's the best way to ensure you have maximum visibility and keep yourself from getting ticketed.