£30 fine for fog lights with no fog? [Archive]

Joe 90

06-11-2009, 19:14

My mum told me yesterday that she recently pulled into a petrol station and had a police man tell her that she had the front fogs on and that he could fine her £30 for that because there was no fog.

is this the case? because its not all that well lit where we live I frequently use the front fogs to improve visibility on the poor roads around here. Seems stupid they can fine you for it but if so, thats certainly a fine simply to make money!

Nutcase

06-11-2009, 19:29

Sorry but there's absolutely NO reason to use rear foglights unless you have difficulty seeing cars in front of you for about 100m and front foglights should ONLY be used if the fog is so thick your dipped headlights are bounced straight back at you. Front foglights are a replacement for dipped headlights.

If you can't see clearly, drive slower.

In 13 years of driving I've needed front foglights twice.

I don't think the police fine enough people driving round with foglights on IMO as they are often poorly aimed and when cresting a hill etc. will shine directly at oncoming drivers' eyes.

Lopez

06-11-2009, 19:41

You are not allowed to use front or rear fogs unless visibility is less than 100m. Your mum could (and should) have been done.

If you cannot see, slow down or, where appropriate, use main beam.

Feek

06-11-2009, 19:58

It's something I learned a long time ago, I was driving along Millers Barn Lane and a plod flashed me down from behind, blue lights and everything and 'advised' me not to use my front fogs when it's not foggy.

Now I tend to use them if I'm on dark unlit roads for increased visibility but I flick them on and off at the same time as I dip/undip my headlights when there's oncoming traffic. I find the low wide beam really helps in country lanes.

But yes, it's not allowed unless visibility is dramatically reduced.

Grandad

06-11-2009, 20:07

Could be a tricky one deciding fog lights from driving lights though

My "lower" lights come on whenever the headlights are on, nothing I can do about it

Jingo

06-11-2009, 20:40

I was pulled into an organised police stop once as I was unaware I had left them on. It gave the police a quick chance to look around the car, ask me a few questions and then after I apologised and told them I was unaware, they let me go scott free!

Del Lardo

06-11-2009, 20:48

When I am in my Elise there are very few things more annoying than someone driving towards me with front fogs on as they are at the perfect height to blind me.

TinkerBell

06-11-2009, 21:03

I agree with the majority of the people on here. There is no need to have fog lights on. I hate it when I see other people with fog lights on when they aren't needed. I have managed for 4 years without any fog lights so it just shows that you don't need them when it isn't foggy.

I think it is pretty fair to fine people for having them on when at the end of the day, the fog lights can cause other road user's undue dazzle or discomfort. The inappropriate use is dangerous as it can affect the oncoming driver's ability to see cyclists, pedestrians, and also the road.

Goose

06-11-2009, 21:51

As a cyclist, I can't stand it. Sometimes it'll take a second or two for my eyes to readjust properly, and that's a second or two I need to spend looking at the road surface I'm riding on.

I've been caught out by bumps/holes I couldn't see after being dazzled by passing cars, with a few close calls.

As a motorist, there is really no need to use them. As with Nutcase, I've barely had the need to use them.

Mark

06-11-2009, 22:33

This thread reminds me somewhat of Zoltan's signature (OcUK).

RIP :(

Grandad

07-11-2009, 01:52

This thread reminds me somewhat of Zoltan's signature (OcUK).

RIP :(

First thing I though of too :(

Desmo

07-11-2009, 02:13

Could be a tricky one deciding fog lights from driving lights though
Nothing a quick look at the dashboard light wont sort out though :)

Kitten

07-11-2009, 02:56

£30? I thought it was £250 for using foglights when not necessary

Grandad

07-11-2009, 03:06

Nothing a quick look at the dashboard light wont sort out though :)

can you explain mate.something that has always bugged me

I have no lights on dash, is that what you mean ?

Del Lardo

07-11-2009, 03:41

can you explain mate.something that has always bugged me

I have no lights on dash, is that what you mean ?

When I turn fog lights on I get a big orange light on my dash. Same for every car I have driven.

Burble

07-11-2009, 03:44

It isn't uncommon to not have a warning on the main instrument cluster for the front fogs (at least 2 previous cars of mine haven't) but AFAIK it's a legal requirement for the rear fog lights.

Psymonkee

07-11-2009, 04:56

My car annoys me intensely - only way to get the rear foglight on is to turn the fronts on too :(

But yes anyone driving with fogs on in the daylight should be ermm.... <insert questionable act here> :)

Darrin

07-11-2009, 05:21

Could be a tricky one deciding fog lights from driving lights though

My "lower" lights come on whenever the headlights are on, nothing I can do about it

Not sure what the legal requirements are over there, but over here an auto manufacturer HAS to ensure that fog/driving lights have a switch. Only two white lights and two amber lights are allowed to be visible from the front of the vehicle when within 1500 feet of another vehicle in motion. So the headlights and running lights are it. Only exception are clearance lights on large trucks.

So if your car has no way to turn the extra lights off, it certainly wouldn't be legal to be registered over here. :shrug:

lostkat

07-11-2009, 08:27

Exactly. If you have the option to turn them on/off then they're front fogs. If not, then they're driving lights. They're called front fog lights for a reason - to use when driving in FOG. I think it's a good idea to join the button for the two so that rear/front come on at once. Maybe it'd stop people driving around with them on!

They really need to clamp down and fine more people for doing this.

£30? I thought it was £250 for using foglights when not necessary
It's been £30 for years. Perhaps upping it to £250 might make people think before they switched them on though.

Stan_Lite

07-11-2009, 08:35

When I am in my Elise there are very few things more annoying than someone driving towards me with front fogs on as they are at the perfect height to blind me.

I agree with DL. Fog lights are a real hazard when you drive a sports car. Really gets on my wick.

As suggested previously, if you can't see properly, slow down. Don't put other road users at risk just so you can see better.

Grandad

07-11-2009, 11:59

When I turn fog lights on I get a big orange light on my dash. Same for every car I have driven.

not in mine, they come on with dip beam but get brighter when you hit the fog light button ( then a light comes on the switch )

Grandad

07-11-2009, 12:01

Exactly. If you have the option to turn them on/off then they're front fogs. If not, then they're driving lights. .

sounds fair, so mine are driving lights in normal use and when you press button ( they become brighter ) then they are fog lights ?

lostkat

07-11-2009, 12:28

Exactly

Kitten

07-11-2009, 14:16

It's been £30 for years. Perhaps upping it to £250 might make people think before they switched them on though.

should be 2 years in prison and an unlimited fine ;)

Pet hate, really, really hate it when people do that.

vix

07-11-2009, 14:19

It depends how regulated it would be though. It's all very well saying there is a fine/ punishment/ whatever but are police actually going to pull people for it. I've never seen anyone get pulled for driving with their foglights on.

Another sports car driver here so one of the most affected by idiots who think it's cool to drive whilst blinding everyone else. I don't have front fogs on my car, and have never felt the need for them whilst driving in fog. If I really can't see where I'm going, I just wont drive!

Jingo

07-11-2009, 14:25

I've never seen anyone get pulled for driving with their foglights on.

I was, however this was in one of those organised 'pull over bay' sessions and I think the foglights were merely an excuse to pull me in and have a chat etc.

I'm not sure that they would light up and have the sirens going if they drove past someone going the other way with them on.

I can't recall the last time I actually remember needing to use them though, my normal lights/full beams tend to do the job fine even in our country lanes.

vix

07-11-2009, 15:02

Yeah, it's like the whole font on numberplate thing, it will be something else they notice when pulling you.

Dr. Z

07-11-2009, 15:33

I was out with someone that turned their front fogs on because it was foggy. Shortly after driving out of the fog we were pulled over and asked why the fog lights were on! The cop was fully geared up to issue a fine (pad out, started writing) when the flog blew in our direction...

Damn right that they should be pulling people for having fog lights on (rather than driving lights!) completely unnecessary to have them on (and in any case, the light from them is marginal compared to full beams anyway!)

Jonny69

07-11-2009, 15:52

Treefrog

07-11-2009, 17:39

I've often thought it should be illegal to use front fogs when it isn't foggy because of the sheer number of times I've been dazzled by the morons who drive round with front fogs on instead of dipped beam.
Now I wish the police would make more people aware of it and enforce it a little.

Mark

07-11-2009, 17:50

Yeah, it's like the whole font on numberplate thing, it will be something else they notice when pulling you.

They do sometimes pull for that (if 'reality' TV shows are to be believed). Probably because it can affect revenue speed cameras and ANPR.

Dymetrie

07-11-2009, 19:17

Probably because it can affect revenue speed cameras and ANPR.

Depends on the type of ANPR. It'll only, possibly, affect OCR based ANPR, and even then the technology is pretty damn snazzy and can identify a huge amount of fonts (and can be programmed with new fonts)...

/CCTV Manager

:p

Feek

07-11-2009, 19:22

I've never seen anyone get pulled for driving with their foglights on.

I'm not sure how you'd know - It happened to me though, see above.

lostkat

08-11-2009, 10:56

I got stopped by the rozzers about 9 years ago for using the front fogs on my bro's car. I was picking up my bf at 3am because his car had broken down on the A50. One of the headlights was completely out on my bro's car and we were on an unlit section of the A50, so I put the fogs on to try and help. I knew it was illegal, but didn't think I had much choice. Got stopped, explained why and was told I'd just talked myself out of a £30 fine. Drove the rest of the way home by candlelight at about 20mph. :p

Kitten

08-11-2009, 11:01

^^I don't think it was the chat that got you out of it sweetie ;)

lostkat

08-11-2009, 11:16

I was approx 3 stone heavier at the time, so it probably was the chat :p

Kitten

08-11-2009, 11:19

still hotter than MY PANTS ;)

/flasheart

Knipples

08-11-2009, 11:57

still hotter than MY PANTS ;)

/flasheart

Hahaha!! Sorry Kitten but that line has had me in stitches! ;D

Pheebs

08-11-2009, 12:20

lol @ Kitten ;D

I have had to use fogs quite frequently going over the moors... but that's not really surprising as it's a foggy place there! People who drive with them on all the time irritate me - coming back from London yester I had to dip my rear view mirror as I had an idiot behind me with their fogs on. Was giving me a headache. I just don't get what the use is?! Especially if there's someone in front of you with their full beams on (which I had but dipped them as usual when I saw oncoming traffic/other people over took). It's not like they couldn't see far in the distance and it was clear as a bell!

Pratt.

A Place of Light

08-11-2009, 15:53

When I see a driver with foglights on when they're not needed, it tells me the same thing as when I see someone driving in darkening conditions without any lights on at all.
Namely that the driver isn't observant, hasn't got his/her mind on their driving and probably shouldn't be allowed to hold a license.

Darrin

08-11-2009, 19:47

One thing I really like about my Jeep is the oversized interior rearview mirror. The overhead console makes a great aiming device for pointing any incoming light from the rear straight back at the source!! :D

You wouldn't believe how many 'kin* morons either back off or finally figure it out and turn off the idiotic bright lights when they get a taste of their own medicine. ;)

*Thank you JSB.

Von Smallhausen

09-11-2009, 12:22

I have stopped a few people for this but it's discretional as to whether an FPN is given and I was of the mindset that a verbal warning is sufficient.

Boy racers were the ones that usually drove with them on just for show and if they ignored the verbal warning and continued to drive with them on then an FPN.

Pet hate though ? Absolutely.

Nutcase

15-11-2009, 01:25

An Observation: They ruddy love 'em in Florida :angry:

NokkonWud

15-11-2009, 01:33

is this the case? because its not all that well lit where we live I frequently use the front fogs to improve visibility on the poor roads around here. Seems stupid they can fine you for it but if so, thats certainly a fine simply to make money!

They do. They fined my mate for it.
Sadly he didn't know, he'd just bought his car that day and spent the whole day cleaning the car and one of the buttons (unlabelled and unlit) was pressed in. Ironically the police were cruising around the high street where boy racers were revving engines and driving too fast, ignoring them, decided my friend was more of a problem and stopped him (after my friend had already parked - we were going for some food) by slamming the police van up the curb where people were walking, then fined him.

Absolutely shocking, they ignored the people who were trouble causing, driving dangerously, then they pull a ridiculous maneuver and it's my mate who gets fined rather than warned.

Burble

15-11-2009, 07:00

An Observation: They ruddy love 'em in Florida :angry:

Ditto in Toronto.

Darrin

15-11-2009, 19:14

Ditto in Salt Lake City...

Mark

15-11-2009, 19:19

An Observation: They ruddy love 'em in Florida :angry:

Is that where you are right now? If so, head over to the east coast tomorrow and watch the Shuttle going up (2:28PM launch). :cool: :)

Feek

15-11-2009, 19:45

Sadly he didn't know, he'd just bought his car that day and spent the whole day cleaning the car and one of the buttons (unlabelled and unlit) was pressed in.

What car is it? I ask because every car I've ever owned has had a fairly high profile light to show that fogs are on.

lostkat

15-11-2009, 20:59

Same here. If they're front fogs, they have to have a light to tell you that they're on iirc.

Nutcase

16-11-2009, 01:58

Is that where you are right now? If so, head over to the east coast tomorrow and watch the Shuttle going up (2:28PM launch). :cool: :)

Gonna have to watch it from central Floriday, but should still be able to see it :cool: Looking forward to it!

Mark

16-11-2009, 09:39

Not sure how much you'll see in daylight. It's visible from a fair portion of Florida (all the way to Orlando and beyond) at night, but not sure in the daytime.

Fayshun

16-11-2009, 10:34

Not sure how much you'll see in daylight. It's visible from a fair portion of Florida (all the way to Orlando and beyond) at night, but not sure in the daytime.
The Shuttle has fog lights? :shocked: