Foggy weather and driving don't mix well, but as we come into autumn and winter, you're going to be seeing more of it.
We'll be giving you some guidance on driving in fog, how and when to use your fog lights, and what the law says.
So that you'll be driving safely through fog thick and thin!
When Should You Use Fog Lights?
Fog lights should only be used in the event of reduced visibility when you can't see for more than 100m (328ft) in front of your vehicle (according to the Highway Code).
And in case you're wondering . . . that's roughly the length of a football pitch.
You can either use your front or rear fog lights, or both, but rear lights are largely optional when driving in fog.
And by law, you must turn the fog lights off when visibility improves (more on that in a bit).
What's the Difference Between Fog Lights and Headlights?
Car headlights are designed to light up things straight ahead of you, whereas fog lights are designed to point down towards the tarmac and light up the ground when driving in fog, to help reduce light reflection.
The fog light controls can normally be found on a button on the car dashboard, on the steering wheel stalk, or next to the dials that you use to control your regular lights.
Do All Cars Have Fog Lights?
It's a legal requirement for all cars to have a rear fog light, but not a front fog light.
Some modern cars make use of daytime running lights in place of front fog lights.
If your car has been imported into the UK, it will need a rear fog light before it is permitted for legal use on the roads.
In the event that you're struggling to find your car's fog lights, it's possible that they might be labelled as something else (for example, 'all-weather lights'). Some very new cars may have the equivalent of fog lights integrated into their headlamps and rear lamps.
If in doubt, best read your vehicle handbook (boring, we know!) to find out your vehicle's situation regarding fog lights and if it has anything instead of them, then it might be a good idea for you to test them whilst parked to find out how bright they are.
What's the Front Fog Light Symbol?
The fog light symbols are fairly easy to recognise.
The front fog light symbol displays a lamp with slanting lines of light in front. The lines of light are intersected by a wavy line, which represents the fog.
Here's what the front fog light switch might look like on a standard steering wheel:
What's the Rear Fog Light Symbol?
The rear fog light symbol is pretty much the same as the front fog light symbol, except in reverse. The light and fog lines show up after the bulb, pointing to the right.
Here's what your rear fog light switch might look like on a steering wheel.
Is Driving Without Fog Lights Illegal in Foggy Conditions?
No.
Driving in fog without fog lights switched on is actually not illegal, but we'd obviously advise that you do have them on just to be safe.
Plus, if you're involved in a car accident during foggy weather and it's discovered that you didn't have your fog lights on at the time, then insurers could lay blame on you, potentially causing your car insurance to become invalidated.
At the end of the day, a lot of it is just down to using your own common sense. You don't have to use your fog lights when driving in fog, but there could be severe consequences if you don't, both in terms of legal trouble and/or an accident.
Better to be safe than sorry.
What About Driving With Fog Lights in Good Conditions?
Believe it or not, this IS illegal, so make sure you switch them off as soon as the fog clears.
The reason it's an offence is because front fog lights can dazzle other road users and rear fog lights can obscure your own brake lights, potentially preventing other drivers from seeing when you're braking.
If there's foggy conditions but you can still see beyond 100m in front of you, then you're probably best turning on your dipped headlights instead.
Use Dipped Beam Headlights
And not full beam.
That piece of advice is especially important in the thicker kinds of fog, as unlike with low beam headlights, the light from full beam headlights will be bounced back towards you by the water droplets in the fog.
This might lead to glare which can potentially block your view of the road and harm the vision of other drivers.
Full beam headlights can also dazzle other drivers coming towards you on the opposite side of the road.
Will I Be Okay if My Car Has Automatic Headlights?
Probably not, as automatic lights are no replacement for fog lights.
Automatic headlights rely on light-level sensors and will only come on when the outside light dips below a certain level, so they might not always activate if you hit patchy fog when driving during the day.
Check whether you have to switch yours on manually, and be aware of hard-to-see other vehicles whose drivers haven't got theirs on.
Summary
Yep, driving in fog can be a pain, but as long as you use your fog lights and know how to activate them, you can't go far wrong.
Safe driving.