Threatened with a fine for NOT having fog lights on

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by 1TUFFUTE

How anyone can be "dazzled" by fog lights in nighttime, or DAYTIME is beyond me! Actually it's not....they would simply have to be aimed UP.....therefore incorrectly installed and would gain zero benifit driving in actual fog!

You be quite surprised how many fog lights are out of adjustment, fog light globes 55 watts, H4 high beam globe 60 watts & H7 high beam globe 55 Watts which clearly shows the fog lights are very bright.

When I had my FG XR6 Ute delivered new my drivers side was fog light would have shined on koalas in trees.

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by trublu

You be quite surprised how many fog lights are out of adjustment, fog light globes 55 watts, H4 high beam globe 60 watts & H7 high beam globe 55 Watts which clearly shows the fog lights are very bright.

When I had my FG XR6 Ute delivered new my drivers side was fog light would have shined on koalas in trees.

Then as a reasonable police officer I would certainly fine someone who had fog lights that were "faulty" and shining at the sky. Seems bad design that that's even possible!
Fog lights are designed to light up the space no higher then the bottom of low beam. That's quite low. Hence why people arguing that fog lights on in anything other then fog are dangerous, is unreasonable. Unless were talking about the very letter of the law of course.
But since the release of DRLs fog light rules are now archaic!


I'd also like to add.....I use to do ALOT of driving and have NEVER been DAZZLED or BLINDED by a car with fog lights on. It's only since I've brought a car with fog lights that I even notice cars with them. Same as when your friend buys a yellow jeep...you start noticing yellow jeeps everywhere.

[monzie]

Our daily driver has factory fogs but we never use them. During the day it's just another thing for the knob polishers. At night you should be looking further ahead than the area just in front that they light up and the "fog on" dash light is a bright distraction.

Peter

[EgoFG]

Soz, Foggies in other that fog is extra light - contributing to the light burden that must be born by the oncoming car and - There is NO benefit to the driver of the car with the foggies on !!!
Even with fog, and an oncoming driver, the benefit is VERY marginal.

Do you really want additional light burden for the 80yo that is coming towards you in his 3000kg SUV.

Please dim the stupid ****** lights !!

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by EgoFG

Soz, Foggies in other that fog is extra light - contributing to the light burden that must be born by the oncoming car and - There is NO benefit to the driver of the car with the foggies on !!!
Even with fog, and an oncoming driver, the benefit is VERY marginal.

Do you really want additional light burden for the 80yo that is coming towards you in his 3000kg SUV.

Please dim the stupid ****** lights !!

You do realize fog lights aren't just for FOG. They are for bad whether or low vision conditions. 100m is the vission range they talk about.
They are also designed so other drivers can see YOU better on the road in bad conditions...not just to light up the road as most think!
The gov officially uses only examples of rain or fog, but they state things like dust and hail are other examples.
Fog lights are specifically designed to disperse light in a low flat short range....not like headlight 'beams'.

I have zero problem using them when the sun is going up or down or in ANY kind of circumstances where I think vission is impaired or other cars may miss me.

It's such a non event in the USA there's only 1 state that has any type of instruction about using fog lights or driving lights...as of 2013.
There is however a massive movement against DRLs and the danger they pose for many reasons....some stated above allready.

Personally I think fog lights are one of the LAST things people should be worried about on the road!!

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by 1TUFFUTE

.
Personally I think fog lights are one of the LAST things people should be worried about on the road!!

Tell that to the police!!!

[aussiblue]

For Vic see http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/...vingLights.htm

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 low, 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 beam (high beam) and dipped beam (passing) headlights.

Daytime running lights


The increased presence of daytime running lights on our roads has caused some confusion within the community due to the outwardly similar appearances between daytime running lights, driving lights and fog lights.

The purpose of daytime running lights is to increase the visibility of a vehicle to other road users in daylight conditions.

Driving lights and fog lights are designed to increase visibility for the driver of the vehicle during night and hazardous conditions respectively.

Daytime running lights are becoming increasingly popular on some new vehicles. Recent overseas studies have shown that the use of daytime running lights has a high potential to improve road safety.

The results of European studies have shown that daytime running lights assist road users to easily recognise and identify vehicles. As a result, a European Commission Directive mandated the addition of daytime running lights to new vehicles from 2011. A number of European manufacturers have brought these vehicles to Australia.

However, the merits of daytime running lights are yet to be quantified in Australia. As Australia has not followed Europe in mandating daytime running lights, not all new vehicles are equipped with daytime running lights.

Daytime running lights are designed to switch on automatically when the engine starts and switch off automatically when fog lights or headlights are switched on. Some vehicles have the ability to adjust daytime running lights to become part of the headlight system. They produce minimal glare in comparison to driving lights and fog lights when used correctly.

The most commonly seen daytime running lights on Australian roads are made up of LEDs. The use of LEDs consumes less power and therefore also reduces fuel consumption and vehicle emissions when compared to traditional headlights.

[aussiblue]

Queensland http://www.racq.com.au/motoring/cars...ets/fog_lights

Section 217 Using fog lights
1.The driver of a vehicle fitted with a front fog light or rear fog light must not operate the fog light unless the driver is driving in fog or other hazardous weather conditions causing reduced visibility.

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.*
2.In this section—

front fog light means a light (other than a headlight) fitted to the front of a vehicle to improve illumination of the road in fog, snowfall, heavy rain or dust clouds.

rear fog light means a light (other than a brake light, a tail light, a number plate light or a reversing light) fitted to the rear of a vehicle to make the vehicle more easily visible from the rear in fog, snowfall, heavy rain or dust clouds.

*As of January 2013 one penalty unit is $110.

The following is from Queensland’s Traffic Operations Road Use Management - Vehicle Standards and Safety Regulation 2012 and relates to technical requirements for fog lights.

[BHDOGS]

Daytime running lights are a crock of **** like all things once ever car has lights on them during the day nobody will give two ****s about it and will ignore them anyway.

[aussiblue]

NSW
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/n...04/s218.1.html

NSW rule: using lights on vehicles generally
218-1 NSW rule: using lights on vehicles generally

(cf RRR, cl 55)
The driver of a vehicle must not:

(a) use any fog light fitted to the vehicle unless the driver is driving in fog, mist or under other atmospheric conditions that restrict visibility, or

(b) use any spot or search light fitted to the vehicle unless:
(i) the vehicle is stationary and the light is used only for the purpose of examining or making adjustments or repairs to a vehicle, and the light from the light is not projected more than 6 metres, or

(ii) the light is used for the temporary purpose of reading any finger or notice board or house number, or

(iii) the vehicle is being driven or used by a police officer in the performance of the officer’s duty, or

(iv) the vehicle is being used by a governmental or semi-governmental or local government or other authority in connection with its functions, or

(c) use any additional headlight permitted to be fitted to the vehicle by the applicable vehicle standards law when the vehicle is being driven on a length of road for which there is provision for the lighting by means of road lighting or when any approaching vehicle is visible to the driver, or

(d) flash any headlight or additional headlight permitted to be fitted to the vehicle by clause 86 (6) of Schedule 2 to the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2007 (or, in the case of a heavy vehicle, a corresponding heavy vehicle standard) unless:
(i) the vehicle is being used to respond to an emergency, and

(ii) the vehicle is being driven by a person who is authorised to drive the vehicle and wears a badge or other distinguishing mark indicating that authority, or

(e) use any light permitted to be fitted to the vehicle by clause 124 (4) of Schedule 2 to the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2007 (or, in the case of a heavy vehicle, a corresponding heavy vehicle standard) unless:
(i) the vehicle is standing in a hazardous position or moving in hazardous circumstances, or

(ii) the vehicle is an ambulance, police vehicle, fire fighting vehicle, mines rescue or other rescue vehicle, Red Cross vehicle or another emergency vehicle that is being used for urgent purposes arising from an accident, fire or other emergency, or

(iii) the vehicle is a motor vehicle or trailer that is transporting any load that exceeds the maximum length, width or height limits set out in the applicable vehicle standards law or any other vehicle used to escort such vehicles and either vehicle is being used for such purposes, or

(iv) the vehicle is being used by the Authority, or a police officer, for law enforcement purposes, or

(f) use any device referred to in clause 125 of Schedule 2 to the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2007 (or, in the case of a heavy vehicle, a corresponding heavy vehicle standard) or any hazard warning signal complying with the requirements of the third edition ADR relating to the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices:
(i) if the vehicle is not a bus-unless the vehicle is standing in a hazardous position or moving in hazardous conditions, or

(ii) if the vehicle is a bus-unless the bus is standing in a hazardous position or moving in hazardous conditions or while the bus is stopped to allow a passenger to get on or off the bus.

Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.

[aussiblue]

I've had no reason to use them on the FG but I have accidently turned them on a coup[le of times when switching on the headlights - I think that it too easy to do that and Ford need to rethink the design/ergonomics. Perhaps it's just my short, fat arthritic fingers but still.

[monzie]

You don't need fogs or DRL's when you have a nice shiny chrome bumper.

When hi-vis vests came in they stood out like dog's balls, now they're part of the scenery. Same is happening with fogs and DRL's. You should be looking for the oncoming vehicle not just a light.

Pete

[Professor Farnsworth]

they're not fog lights, they're driving lights

and HID's are FAR worse to deal with than fog lights, i barely even notice any more if someone has fog lights on as most people do and it's no issue to me

and btw, i don't use mine.