Rear fog light

[pewpewpew]

In Europe, all vehicles must be equipped with a rear fog light. This light, when activated, illuminates a light that is as bright as brake lights and it is usually one light source in the rear of the vehicle and usually on the driver's side. During inclement weather such as fog, heavy rain, and blizzards, activating the rear fog light will make the vehicle more noticeable to those in the rear.

Many European cars sold in North America, such as Mercedes, Volvo, and Land Rover, have rear fog lights installed and are ready to activate. I believe the Oldsmobile Alero also had them. Since it is not a required equipment in North America, many people here do not know what it is when they first see it and think that it is a burned out light bulb or an electrical glitch.

In addition to this, many drivers, with the ability to use the rear fog light, do not use it properly. On some manufacturers, the rear fog light can be activated separately from the front fog lights. On other manufacturers, the rear fog light is activated when turning on the front fog lights. For people who like to drive with their front fog lights activated all the time, regardless of the weather, the rear fog light may also be activated and they may not even know it.

I have had people honk at me to tell me something was wrong with my brake lights. I have also had people slow down to check it out before passing me. Regardless of what they were thinking, it got noticed and that is the primary purpose of the rear fog. I haven't been rear ended in bad weather yet! (knock on wood)

How many of you here have heard of the rear fog light? If you didn't know the purpose of it before reading this thread, would you have pulled someone over that had it activated? Do you think this idea makes sense for North America? It's hard enough to get people to turn on their headlights when it's raining. I think the idea of a rear fog light would make these people's heads explode.

I want to post a pic what it looks like on a VW Passat, but I don't have enough posts for that privilege, so here is a url:

[txinvestigator1]

People who drive with their fog lights on at all times are idiots, and violating Texas law.

I have been driving for 32 years and have never been rear ended without rear fog lights. So much for anectodal evidence. :rolleyes:

[Darin]

I pulled over a car that I thought had a rear brake light problem and it turned out to be this rear fog thing. I had no idea. I like the concept but I don't know if it'll catch on.

I also noticed a new Mercedes pass me on a rainy interstate road. The brake lights would "strobe" every 5 seconds. It was very distracting because I thought he was slowing for something in the roadway.


As for the front fog lights...Virginia has no law regulating fog light use. I burn my fog lights when driving home from work every night. I have a 29 mile drive and the deer are very numerous. The fog lights illuminate the side edges of the roadway and because of that has saved me from hitting many deer. Since I can see farther to the side of the roadway it gives me more reaction time/distance.

[Creeker]

I can definitively state that the Oldsmobile no longer has one....

When I was working, I had a pair of fog lights mounted on my SUV trailer hitch and activated with a blank switch on my light bar box. I can't tell you how many times they saved me from backing damage on those long & very deserted backroads when I was the last guy leaving a crime scene, as well as helping out with the uneven footing when working around the back of the vehicle.

I have often thought of having some mounted on my POV SUV when I have the same difficulties...:cool:

[Legoate]

I have them on my Volvo but never use them. I also, have never been rearended where it would have made a difference or investigated a wreck where rear fog lights would likely have helped.

[Wombat311]

We don't have the bad fog that Europe has very often, but there are still a lot of cars with front and rear fog lights. A lot of idiots drive with them on in clear weather because they think it looks cool or they just don't know how or when to use them.

Driving with fog lights on when not suitable is an offence here.

[smcc360]

In Europe, all vehicles must be equipped with a rear fog light.

Thanks for the info, pewpewpew. I'd better add this to my list...

European Stuff to Ignore

1) Soccer
2) Lars von Trier
3) Socialism
4) Rear Fog Lights

[Aussie George]

Like Wombat said, it is an offence here, unless there are conditions such as fog.

A lot of clowns do drive around with them all the time, but where I used to work we did have serious fog problems, and being in the country there was little to no street lighting once out of town.

I have no probs with someone using them correctly - IE: when there is fog etc, but during broad daylight or clear nights, they are distracting and annoying.

Some cars also have automatic lights that turn on with the windscreen wipers, so that if it is wet enough to turn the wipers on, then the lights are on also.

Makes sense to me. Obviously in some places it is not as worthwhile as other, depending on weather/climate etc

[Legoate]

Thanks for the info, pewpewpew. I'd better add this to my list...

European Stuff to Ignore

1) Soccer
2) Lars von Trier
3) Socialism
4) Rear Fog Lights

5) The French

[DeltaV]

The problem with the rear fog lights is that their use is not usually recognized in the United States. For example, Florida law states that the vehicle's brake lights may only be illuminated when the vehicle is slowing or stopped. If the rear fog light is actually the brake light (they usually are), then it cannot be illuminated. There are also laws against what Darin described as the brake lights flashing. The law in most states says that the brake light must be steady red--not flashing red. Whether or not something came standard on a car, it still has to comply with the law of the area where the car is being driven.

[Creeker]

It disturbs me how many places have laws against having too many lights lit up or when.

One of the reason that Motorcycles are in many accidents is becaue the other motorist does not see them. Its the same reason that GM began turning out vehicles with DRL's.

I usually turn my "fog" (OEM) lights on in midafternoon or "whenever" for that same reason, especially on trips, because the Automatic lights sometimes don't come on early enough or soon enough in overcast. The OEM "fog" lights barely light up more than the DRL's and turn off when the high beams are activated.

So some states Legislators actually sit around and say "That guy can't have his fog lights on. Its annoying that someone would want to do that for safety. We have to pass legislation against that..." :confused: :rolleyes:

I'd understand not having enough lights on, or not turning them on after dusk (like that's ever really enforced :rolleyes: ) or having off-road lights on in traffic, but an extra pair of dimmer than low beam lights pointed at the road or towards the ditchlines? :confused:

[Aussie George]

There was a huge debate in the 90's here about motorbikes having to have their headlights on at all times.

Some motoring (motorcycle) groups jumped up and down for some reason and thought it was an attack on their freedom as riders or some garbage reason. :confused:

So not long after that all the new bikes sold (at least Japanese that I know of) came out with no switch for the lights. you start the bike, the lights came on.

I don't know what the riders groups were opposed to it for????

[copgirl]

In Belgium, you're not allowed to use it unless the weather is foggy.

[copgirl]

Thanks for the info, pewpewpew. I'd better add this to my list...

European Stuff to Ignore

1) Soccer
2) Lars von Trier
3) Socialism
4) Rear Fog Lights

European stuff to try

1) Belgian beers
2) Belgian chocolates
3) Belgian copgirls

:p

[pewpewpew]

European stuff to try

1) Belgian beers
2) Belgian chocolates
3) Belgian copgirls

:p

I have tried #1 and #2 and I have enjoyed them both. As for #3, my wife may have a problem with that, considering my track record with #1 and #2! Thank you all for your input and stay safe out there.