Audi A1 TSFI Sportsback 2017

photome

AdrianC said:

photome said:

dont get me started on fog lights though

Since rear fog lights have been a legal requirement on all new cars in the UK for 40 years, I presum you mean front fog lights?

They are very useful indeed. Not only is sidelights-plus-front-fog the most effective combination in proper fog (not the light mist that many confuse with "proper fog"), but they also help to fill in light underneath main beam.

Neither of these are going to be remotely relevant to urban-dwellers, or even to those in commuter-belt suburban "rural", but here in proper rural, they are both very frequently used for a large slice of the year.

I'd estimate I drive on main beam much more than on dip, to give you an example of what I mean. When I lived in commuter-belt suburban "rural", main beam was almost never used.

Nothing wrong with fog lights front and rear in fog, ,its very rare i need to put mine on though even doing 30000 miles a year
My gripe is the amount of people who put them on when its raining, especially rear and or leave them on when the fog clears

neilmcl

photome said:

AdrianC said:

photome said:

dont get me started on fog lights though

Since rear fog lights have been a legal requirement on all new cars in the UK for 40 years, I presum you mean front fog lights?

They are very useful indeed. Not only is sidelights-plus-front-fog the most effective combination in proper fog (not the light mist that many confuse with "proper fog"), but they also help to fill in light underneath main beam.

Neither of these are going to be remotely relevant to urban-dwellers, or even to those in commuter-belt suburban "rural", but here in proper rural, they are both very frequently used for a large slice of the year.

I'd estimate I drive on main beam much more than on dip, to give you an example of what I mean. When I lived in commuter-belt suburban "rural", main beam was almost never used.

Nothing wrong with fog lights front and rear in fog, ,its very rare i need to put mine on though even doing 30000 miles a year
My gripe is the amount of people who put them on when its raining, especially rear and or leave them on when the fog clears

Depends on how badly it's raining. If it's absolutely tipping it down and your on a motorway/dual carriageway with visibility due to spray down to metres then there is a legitimate call for rear fogs, but I agree the problem is drivers forgetting to turn them off the moment they get into clearer conditions or putting them on at night when it's a bit misty, in fact unless it's a pea souper there really isn't a need to use rear fog lights at all at night.

Zellah

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

Auto lights.  Running lights.  Dashboards that light up by themselves and headlights that switch on or off depending on whether one's going in a straight line or round a corner.  It's a car, not a carnival float.  None of this is necessary. 
I've got an old car with a three position switch: if it's daytime and bright the switch is turned to 'off'; if it's daytime and gloomy or raining or rubbish, the switch is turned to 'sidelights'; if it's night time, the switch is turned to 'dipped headlights'.  That's all any sane person needs headlights to do. 

So I can assume you've never driven in total darkness on a countryside lane? Wake up, not everyone lives in the city where the street lights provide sufficient road lighting.

ontheroad1970

neilmcl said:

photome said:

AdrianC said:

photome said:

dont get me started on fog lights though

Since rear fog lights have been a legal requirement on all new cars in the UK for 40 years, I presum you mean front fog lights?

They are very useful indeed. Not only is sidelights-plus-front-fog the most effective combination in proper fog (not the light mist that many confuse with "proper fog"), but they also help to fill in light underneath main beam.

Neither of these are going to be remotely relevant to urban-dwellers, or even to those in commuter-belt suburban "rural", but here in proper rural, they are both very frequently used for a large slice of the year.

I'd estimate I drive on main beam much more than on dip, to give you an example of what I mean. When I lived in commuter-belt suburban "rural", main beam was almost never used.

Nothing wrong with fog lights front and rear in fog, ,its very rare i need to put mine on though even doing 30000 miles a year
My gripe is the amount of people who put them on when its raining, especially rear and or leave them on when the fog clears

Depends on how badly it's raining. If it's absolutely tipping it down and your on a motorway/dual carriageway with visibility due to spray down to metres then there is a legitimate call for rear fogs, but I agree the problem is drivers forgetting to turn them off the moment they get into clearer conditions or putting them on at night when it's a bit misty, in fact unless it's a pea souper there really isn't a need to use rear fog lights at all at night.

I disagree.  The glare caused by rear foglights is dazzling especially in heavy rain, as t is mixed in the spray also and they also mask brake lights or act as a false positive for brake lights.  

macman

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

Auto lights.  Running lights.  Dashboards that light up by themselves and headlights that switch on or off depending on whether one's going in a straight line or round a corner.  It's a ca

I've got an old car with a three position switch: if it's daytime and bright the switch is turned to 'off'; if it's daytime and gloomy or raining or rubbish, the switch is turned to 'sidelights

r, not a carnival float.  None of this is necessary. 
'; if it's night time, the switch is turned to 'dipped headlights'.  That's all any sane person needs headlights to do.  It's really, really easy.  
Modern cars, with their multi position switches, light sensors, Orgone energy detectors and dowsing rods are simply too complicated for their own good.  I don't need the lights to flash in time to the radio or to form the pattern of my favourite constellation.  We've got a modern car in the family.  I haven't got a clue whether the headlights are on or off or looking for extra-terrestrial life most of the time I'm driving it.   

Not legal. You can only drive on sidelights at night, and if the road is lit by streetlamps, 30mph limit. Not during daytime, weather regardless.

Grumpy_chap

macman said:

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

I've got an old car with a three position switch: if it's daytime and bright the switch is turned to 'off'; if it's daytime and gloomy or raining or rubbish, the switch is turned to 'sidelights

  

Not legal. You can only drive on sidelights at night, and if the road is lit by streetlamps, 30mph limit. Not during daytime, weather regardless.

That is news to me, and seems to differ to this website:
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/driving-advice/parking-lights/
It states "Sidelights aren’t as bright as headlights, so are used by drivers to make themselves more visible to other traffic during times when it’s not dark enough for main lights."
Obviously, RAC are not the law, but many drivers would turn to them for advice.

I know I do put the sidelights on if it is grey, dark and gloomy even if day-time as it makes me more visible.

Is your case, that you must use as a minimum sidelights if it is night, streetlamps and 30 mph limit?

macman

Rule 226 says that headlamps must be used in poor visibility, less than 100m. It's ambiguous.

AdrianC

Grumpy_chap said:

macman said:

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

I've got an old car with a three position switch: if it's daytime and bright the switch is turned to 'off'; if it's daytime and gloomy or raining or rubbish, the switch is turned to 'sidelights

  

Not legal. You can only drive on sidelights at night, and if the road is lit by streetlamps, 30mph limit. Not during daytime, weather regardless.

That is news to me, and seems to differ to this website:
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/driving-advice/parking-lights/
It states "Sidelights aren’t as bright as headlights, so are used by drivers to make themselves more visible to other traffic during times when it’s not dark enough for main lights."
Obviously, RAC are not the law, but many drivers would turn to them for advice.

I know I do put the sidelights on if it is grey, dark and gloomy even if day-time as it makes me more visible.

Is your case, that you must use as a minimum sidelights if it is night, streetlamps and 30 mph limit?

Highway Code rule 113
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/general-rules-techniques-and-advice-for-all-drivers-and-riders-103-to-158

You MUST ... use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) unless otherwise specified

Laws RVLR regs 3, 24 & 25 

neilmcl

ontheroad1970 said:

neilmcl said:

photome said:

AdrianC said:

photome said:

dont get me started on fog lights though

Since rear fog lights have been a legal requirement on all new cars in the UK for 40 years, I presum you mean front fog lights?

They are very useful indeed. Not only is sidelights-plus-front-fog the most effective combination in proper fog (not the light mist that many confuse with "proper fog"), but they also help to fill in light underneath main beam.

Neither of these are going to be remotely relevant to urban-dwellers, or even to those in commuter-belt suburban "rural", but here in proper rural, they are both very frequently used for a large slice of the year.

I'd estimate I drive on main beam much more than on dip, to give you an example of what I mean. When I lived in commuter-belt suburban "rural", main beam was almost never used.

Nothing wrong with fog lights front and rear in fog, ,its very rare i need to put mine on though even doing 30000 miles a year
My gripe is the amount of people who put them on when its raining, especially rear and or leave them on when the fog clears

Depends on how badly it's raining. If it's absolutely tipping it down and your on a motorway/dual carriageway with visibility due to spray down to metres then there is a legitimate call for rear fogs, but I agree the problem is drivers forgetting to turn them off the moment they get into clearer conditions or putting them on at night when it's a bit misty, in fact unless it's a pea souper there really isn't a need to use rear fog lights at all at night.

I disagree.  The glare caused by rear foglights is dazzling especially in heavy rain, as t is mixed in the spray also and they also mask brake lights or act as a false positive for brake lights.  

If you're that close to another vehicle in heavy rain for the glare to be dazzling or confuse them with brake lights then I'd look a bit more closely at your driving skills.

ontheroad1970

neilmcl said:

ontheroad1970 said:

neilmcl said:

photome said:

AdrianC said:

photome said:

dont get me started on fog lights though

Since rear fog lights have been a legal requirement on all new cars in the UK for 40 years, I presum you mean front fog lights?

They are very useful indeed. Not only is sidelights-plus-front-fog the most effective combination in proper fog (not the light mist that many confuse with "proper fog"), but they also help to fill in light underneath main beam.

Neither of these are going to be remotely relevant to urban-dwellers, or even to those in commuter-belt suburban "rural", but here in proper rural, they are both very frequently used for a large slice of the year.

I'd estimate I drive on main beam much more than on dip, to give you an example of what I mean. When I lived in commuter-belt suburban "rural", main beam was almost never used.

Nothing wrong with fog lights front and rear in fog, ,its very rare i need to put mine on though even doing 30000 miles a year
My gripe is the amount of people who put them on when its raining, especially rear and or leave them on when the fog clears

Depends on how badly it's raining. If it's absolutely tipping it down and your on a motorway/dual carriageway with visibility due to spray down to metres then there is a legitimate call for rear fogs, but I agree the problem is drivers forgetting to turn them off the moment they get into clearer conditions or putting them on at night when it's a bit misty, in fact unless it's a pea souper there really isn't a need to use rear fog lights at all at night.

I disagree.  The glare caused by rear foglights is dazzling especially in heavy rain, as t is mixed in the spray also and they also mask brake lights or act as a false positive for brake lights.  

If you're that close to another vehicle in heavy rain for the glare to be dazzling or confuse them with brake lights then I'd look a bit more closely at your driving skills.

Nonsense.  Particularly at night, the use of rear fog lights in rain is downright dangerous.  I always leave plenty of space between me and the vehicle in front.  I've had to stop at services a few times because the glare from the use of rear foglights in rain is so dazzling when mixed with spray.  There is absolutely no need for rear foglights in rain.  They are called FOG lights for a reason.  When scanning the road ahead, a brighter light ahead partially visible behind other cars at an angle can be seen by some as a brake light, and I have noticed other drivers braking as a result of it.  Compounded by a wet road, what seems like a good idea is a rather silly one.  

Driving in the rain can be tiring enough without the added hazard of too many bright red lights ahead when normal brightness red lights are perfectly sufficient, and since they are so bright, fog lights do affect the visibility of brake lights.  So much so, that there used to be a public information film shown at shutdown on BBC telling people not to use foglights in the rain.