Vent about some drivers

FatAndy

derrick wrote: »

It does actually,because driving lights can be used at any time, "fog lights" can only be used in reduced visibility.

I was talking to a traffic cop a couple of years ago and on the subject of fog/driving lights he told me of a bloke he pulled up for driving on foglights at night time with no reduced visibility, the guy was adamant that they were driving lights so much that the cop was only going to warn him, but evetually gave him a ticket, on return to the station he went online and pulled up the details of the vehicle and it showed they were factory fitted lights and they were fog lights, he sent the details to the driver and he heard nothing more, bearing in mind the driver told him he would contest the ticket.

Driving lights can be used at any time.
Fog lights can only be used in reduced visibility

Rule 236 from the Highway Code

You MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226) as they dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves.
[Law RVLR regs 25 & 27]

I agree with you about the wrong use of foglights, they are a menace
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I think you've proved my point here derrick. What on earth are 'driving lights'. I've been a motorist for nearly twenty five years (just realised I'm getting old:eek:) and as far as I've always been aware cars come equipped with sidelights, headlights and foglights. You put your sidelights on if visibility isn't great and you want other motorists to be able to see you, you put your headlights on when it's dark and you want to see where you're going and if, and only if, it's very foggy you put your foglights on to avoid another motorist griving into you. Where do 'driving lights' come into play? If you can't see clearly enough with you headlights switched on then either one or both of your bulbs have failed or you've got a problem with your eyesight and shouldn't be driving in the first place.

Going back to your story, if a qualified traffic cop can't tell the difference between fog lights and 'driving lights' and has to look it up on the internet then this suggests to me that they are pretty much the same thing. It seems to me that 'driving lights' is a term invented by show offs to try to wriggle out of a ticket when they, rightly, get pulled over by the cops.

I would also repeat what I said originally that if they dazzle and distract other motorists it doesn't matter what you call them, they shouldn't be switched on.

Incidentally, on my way to work this morning I found myself being followed by some moron with his/her front foglights blazing away. Up ahead I noticed a bunch of cop cars in a layby, presumably setting up to do random drink/drive tests. The moron behind promptly turned off his/her fog lights. Was this coincidence that they suddenly realised that they'd switched them on my accident or was this recognition that they knew that they were committing an offence and didn't want to be caught? I know which one I think is the case.

System

Front fogs should NEVER dazzle.

The idea of them is to give a low wide illumination to enable the driver to see without the backscatter normally associated with dipped or main beam in fog..
If they dazzle other drivers then they are front spot lights and not fog lights.

derrick

FatAndy wrote: »

I think you've proved my point here derrick. What on earth are 'driving lights'.

Don't know what you mean about "you've proved my point here".

You can use driving lights at any time, but fog lights only in reduced visibility, don't forget fog lights can be yellow, head and driving lights are white. An example HERE for dual driving/fog lamps; - "At last - the versatility of fog lights and driving lights combined in one powerful unit. The PIAA 940 Dual System Light Kit changes from wide road illumination to super long range with the flip of a switch. You'll never be caught off-guard by changing conditions again.

The fog light lamp emits a distinct amber light that cuts through fog much easier than standard clear bulbs. The driving lights boast clear, focused light that's ideal for navigating dark back roads and hills. Both are surrounded by the PIAA 940's black aluminum housing for durability."

Comment 3 from the above link; - ""I installed these into the grill of a 97 Dodge conversion van, and they look great and work beautifully--the fog lights give great side lighting, too, and the white driving lights far exceed the vehicle's high beams. Definitely a good buy!"

Your comment, "You put your sidelights on if visibility isn't great and you want other motorists to be able to see you," is wrong! (have you seen the state of some of those sidelights, especially on larger vehicles, HGVs are the worst, you actually see the vehicle before the sidelights) the LAW is ;-
Rule 226

You MUST use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres (328 feet). You may also use front or rear fog lights but you MUST switch them off when visibility improves (see Rule 236).

[Law RVLR regs 25 & 27]"


That is a regulation not just a rule, so if you as the driver think you need lights in bad visibility the LAW states it MUST be dipped headlights.


"if a qualified traffic cop can't tell the difference between fog lights and 'driving lights' and has to look it up on the internet then this suggests to me that they are pretty much the same thing."


I did not say that, the cop went on the internet so he could get the correct details for that car, and then sent them to the driver who was adamant he had driving lights and not fog lights, the cop was just proving the point in hard copy.


"I would also repeat what I said originally that if they dazzle and distract other motorists it doesn't matter what you call them, they shouldn't be switched on." In total agreement here.


More examples of fog & driving lights.
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Steel_2

Bristolfarmer wrote: »

Or old dears in Micras turning right 13 miles down the road.....

That's my father! He can get ready for a turning miles before it turns up.

And he yells "go round me then" to the irate queue behind him while he's pootling along at 40mph preparing for his right turn...

Hubby was once confronted by a 7-ton lorry going the wrong way round a roundabout at 5am one winter morning. That woke him up...

Keeley_p_2

At what speed did you overtake? did you make the other driver break?

Normally, I'd agree with you that this need to be taken into account, but when I was driving on the A1(M) the other day, I nearly got rear ended by a prat in a BMW.

I pulled out to overtake, having checked that I had room, and this car was about half a mile back. About half way through the overtake, he's up my backside, flashing lights, honking horn etc etc...

Now my car is about 14 years old, it'll only go so fast, obv not fast enough for this p*******. He pulled in in front of me, and slammed his brakes on, and again, surprisingly, his brand new car can out-brake my banger :rolleyes:.

Called the police, told them he appeared to be under the influence

FatAndy

derrick wrote: »

Don't know what you mean about "you've proved my point here".

You can use driving lights at any time, but fog lights only in reduced visibility, don't forget fog lights can be yellow, head and driving lights are white. An example HERE for dual driving/fog lamps; - "At last - the versatility of fog lights and driving lights combined in one powerful unit. The PIAA 940 Dual System Light Kit changes from wide road illumination to super long range with the flip of a switch. You'll never be caught off-guard by changing conditions again.

The fog light lamp emits a distinct amber light that cuts through fog much easier than standard clear bulbs. The driving lights boast clear, focused light that's ideal for navigating dark back roads and hills. Both are surrounded by the PIAA 940's black aluminum housing for durability."

Comment 3 from the above link; - ""I installed these into the grill of a 97 Dodge conversion van, and they look great and work beautifully--the fog lights give great side lighting, too, and the white driving lights far exceed the vehicle's high beams. Definitely a good buy!"


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I'm not interested in what they do or sell in the US of A because I never drive there. However I still don't see what 'driving lights' are or why anyone would need them. The fact that some hillybilly has fitted 'driving lights' to his 97 Dodge conversion van doesn't mean that I can't be annoyed at the ever increasing number of idiots dazzling me whenever I have to drive after dark.

As far as I tell from the evidence above, 'driving lights' are nothing more than a means by which businesses can part fools from their money. If you can't see where you're going with your headlights on, which millions of motorists have been quite capable of doing for many years, then get down to your local optician and get your eyesight checked out before you get behind the wheel of your car again.


Quick thought, if any MPs are reading this then perhaps you could introduce a new Bill into Parliment to make it law that anyone caught driving with their foglights on in clear conditions should be banned from driving again until they've had an eyetest :rolleyes:.

derrick

It is irrelevant where the site is, I was just pointing out that there is/are driving and fog lamps, (UK site ), and that was the point the traffic cop was making.

Personally I do not have them fitted nor do I intend to, but as they are sold and fitted I assume there is some advantage, did you look at the Bosch link, despite what you say there are driving and fog lamps, it is my understanding that the driving lamps have a different shaped beam and can light further up the road than standard headlamps, whilst foglamps spread the beam nearer the vehicle.

This discussion is going nowhere, as you disagree that there is a difference between driving and fog lamps, there is and nothing you can say will alter the fact!

derrick

An explanation re fog & driving lamps HERE.

"Fogs should be mounted low so the beam lights the road with minimum reflection off fog clouds. Their lens' are cut to allow a flat wide arch of light a short distance. Driving beams are mounted higher to get the benefit of range out of the light. They throw light in a tight pattern further. You would not want to use these in the fog as reflection would impair your vision."

FatAndy

derrick wrote: »

An explanation re fog & driving lamps HERE.

"Fogs should be mounted low so the beam lights the road with minimum reflection off fog clouds. Their lens' are cut to allow a flat wide arch of light a short distance. Driving beams are mounted higher to get the benefit of range out of the light. They throw light in a tight pattern further. You would not want to use these in the fog as reflection would impair your vision."

Point taken. Who am I to argue with the opinions of a boy racer from North Carolina posted six and a half years ago:rudolf:.

JohalaReewi

Speedometers always over report your actual speed by up to 10%.
You might think you are doing 70mph on the motorway and sticking to the speed limit (because your speedo says so) but in reality, you are doing anything between 63 and 69 mph.

My car is only really doing 70mph when the speedo says 75. In my previous car it was 77. YMMV
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