About Fog Lights

A variety of vehicles on the market today come equipped with fog lights, or fog lamps, as they are more commonly referred to. They are typically a safety feature and are used mostly for driving in inclement weather, such as snow or fog. Though not all vehicles come equipped with fog lights, many are made so that aftermarket fog lamps can be added.

Types

Fog lamps are typically located beneath the vehicle's headlights. They are normally bar-shaped and wide light beams that have a sharp cutoff at the top. They are normally mounted and aimed low. They can be either yellow or white. Some fog lamps are round in shape and sometimes have both yellow and white within the same lens. One thing that is common is the placement of the lights.

Function

Fog lights are intended to be most effective when used at low speeds. They provide increased light aimed at the road's surface because of weather conditions, or driving conditions that produce poor visibility for the driver. Driving conditions in which fog lights are most useful include dust, rain, snow and fog. They are often used effectively in place of headlamps that are considered to be dipped-beam, because they cut the glare-back caused by falling snow and fog. Using fog lights in place of low-beam headlights may not be legal in your state, so familiarize yourself with local laws before you turn your lights off in inclement driving conditions.

Identification

Fog lights and driving lamps are often confused because most people think that fog lights are usually yellow and driving lamps are usually white. The situation can become even more confusing because aftermarket accessories suppliers and automakers often refer to the two interchangeably, as in driving/fog lamps. In a lot of countries, driving conditions do not typically necessitate the use of fog lights, so their primary function is usually cosmetic. In addition, there are no legal requirements for fog lights in such countries.

Considerations

Even if your vehicle does not come equipped with fog lights, you can purchase them as an aftermarket accessory and have them installed. You just need to make sure that your vehicle is equipped with the cutouts for the lights. Those who choose to install aftermarket fog lamps tend to choose the white variety if they are installing them for purely cosmetic reasons. If they are to be functional, then the yellow ones would probably be a better choice.

Warning

Keep in mind that driving with fog lights on when the weather is not seriously compromised can cause other drivers to suffer from increased glare. This is especially true when the pavement is wet. In addition to causing other drivers excess glare, using fog lights in such conditions can also cause the driver's vision to be harmed because of foreground illumination that is excessive.