Head lights/Fog lights

[NewToy]

How come when you have your fog lights illuminated (on a Car/truck) with your low beams they go out when you engage the high beams? Is it some type of NTSB mandate that regulates lumens or a consideration for overloading the electrical system?
John

 

[Gatorboy]

Not sure the reason, but when it's foggy turning on your high beams makes it very hard to see. So if you can see with high beams on, there is no reason to be running with your fog lights.

 

[Dargo]

I saw a survey by J.D. Powers (I think) that listed the most irritating thing done by drivers. In this survey the top thing listed as causing anger is people driving with their "driving lights" or "fog lights" on at all times after dark. Our police department has begin issuing citations for such a violation. My BIL got one. His excuse was that he thought it looked cool, and everyone else does it. Yeah, great excuse. The cop told him that driving with his driving lights on (fog lights are amber in color) is equal to driving around with your bright lights on. I don't recall the survey saying that it was illegal, just rude.

At second was not using turn signals, and I think third was throwing cigarettes out the window. Where I live, both of those things are illegal as well. If you live in an area like where I do, and if your "fog lights" are actually the clear "driving lights", maybe a cop will tell you why they go off when you turn your other brights on.

 

[cp1969]

Not sure the reason, but when it's foggy turning on your high beams makes it very hard to see. So if you can see with high beams on, there is no reason to be running with your fog lights.

If you can see with low beams there is no reason to run them either, but about every other car on the road does.

 

[Dusty]

The fog or driving lights that came with my car as standard equipment illuminate the road close to the bumper and to both sides of the front bumper. They in no way are blinding to other motorists. They don't go off when you hit the high beams either. If the lights came with the vehicle from the manufacturer, they can't ticket you for using them. I believe that Wisconsin doesn't allow any lighting on the road that isn't installed by the vehicle manufacturer, except for emergency lighting on service vehicles etc. Sometimes a department will get a bug and start issuing tickets for something that they don't like, but if you take the ticket to the court and ask to see the applicable state regulation or statute, if there is none, the ticket goes away, and usually the town stops issuing these frivolous tickets.
There is one thing that is becoming standard on many cars and trucks today and that is daytime driving lights. I can't stand those and find them very distracting. The claim is made that they make the roads safer. I don't believe that there is any proof of this claim. If you don't like them either, there is an organization that is working to keep them from becoming mandated on new vehicles. Association of Drivers Against Day Time Running Lights
Dusty

 

[cp1969]

They in no way are blinding to other motorists.

Define "blinding." If they didn't add light to my eyes, I wouldn't be able see them. A lot of times, my eyes already have more than enough light--adding more doesn't help, it hurts--hence the term, blinding.

There is one thing that is becoming standard on many cars and trucks today and that is daytime driving lights. I can't stand those and find them very distracting. The claim is made that they make the roads safer. I don't believe that there is any proof of this claim. If you don't like them either, there is an organization that is working to keep them from becoming mandated on new vehicles. Association of Drivers Against Day Time Running Lights
Dusty

I'll throw in with you on this one, even though I find them less annoying than driving lights being used for no apparent reason.

 

[JD3520]

Some states do not allow more than 4 lights facing forward. Many cars have 4-light headlight systems and the addition of the driving lights would give six in violation of the law. So, when the bright lights come on the driving lights go off to avoid a violation.

The problem with driving lights is some people adjust them to reach farther and thus blinding oncoming traffic. It may not be a law violation to turn them on in a particular state but an adjustment that allows them to blind traffic is a violation.

If a driver needs that kind on illumination (six lights or driving lights out of adjustment) they need to either slow down or not drive at night.

Some people have no idea what courteous driving means. Please save your driving lights for roads with no traffic.

My pick up has daytime running lights. I simply removed the fuse to them.

 

[Dargo]

If the lights came with the vehicle from the manufacturer, they can't ticket you for using them.

Oh really?! Try driving around with your brights (installed by the factory) all the time. If you don't get a ticket first, you'll likely be dragged out of your vehicle and beaten by using your factory installed lights.

P.S. When you drive with your bright driving lights on facing me on a two lane road, I'll be one of the many who will return the favor and allow you to view my factory installed HID brights. Basically, you are blinding me and I must be able to see the line on the right side of the road or possibly ram you head on since you are blinding me. Driving lights are not focused and certainly do blind others. Why would it be the number one complaint by other drivers? Daytime driving lights may not be turned off by the vehicle operator. Bright driving lights must be manually turned on by the operator; big difference.

 

[dmccarty]

There are fog lights and then there are fog lights.

The fog lights that came with my truck are legal otherwise Ford would not have put them on the truck. The after market fog lights are the ones that cause trouble. I do see some lights that are either mis adjusted or they are trying to call UFOs into an LZ.

The fog lights I have do work in fog. I also put on the highbeams at night trying to see deer. I do try to turn them off when other cars head towards me.

JD just sent me a catalog with HID work lights I would like to add to the tractor. I ask the boss and she said I work too hard as is and I don't need to be working at night anyway. When I told her the lights where $400 I got The Look.

No HIDS for me.

Later,
Dan

 

[NewToy]

I'm going to install those "Blue Laser" super penetrating headlights and they also have the fog/driving light replacement bulbs. Just Kidding! Those things are my #1 gripe.
If you shouldn't burn the factory installed clear fog/driving lamps with your lo-beams when should you use them? I have never found them to be bothersome, nothing like getting high beamed.
John