Fog Lamp Regulations

[wexican]

In the " If you could make a new road traffic law what would it be? thread", Fog Lamps proved to be a hot topic. It got me wondering what exactly the law in Ireland is re: use of and installation (regulation of) Fog Lamps.

Currently I have 2 white (front) fog lamps and 1 red (rear) fog lamp on my Golf. Would I, for instance be allowed to change the front lamps to yellow bulbs like in this picture http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...6/DSC00376.jpg ?

Also, what exactly are the laws re using fog lamps when driving? Visibility less than 100m or 50m?

Any input appreciated.

[nice guy always]

Originally Posted by wexican

In the " If you could make a new road traffic law what would it be? thread", Fog Lamps proved to be a hot topic. It got me wondering what exactly the law in Ireland is re: use of and installation (regulation of) Fog Lamps.

Currently I have 2 white (front) fog lamps and 1 red (rear) fog lamp on my Golf. Would I, for instance be allowed to change the front lamps to yellow bulbs like in this picture http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...6/DSC00376.jpg ?

Also, what exactly are the laws re using fog lamps when driving? Visibility less than 100m or 50m?

Any input appreciated.

If my memory serves me right they may only be used in fog or falling snow.....but for the life of me I cannot find it in the statute book. I'll have to look when im back to work.

Section 51A RTA 1961-06 is what is used to prosecute for them. €80 and 2 penalty points for the FCPS.....bit harsh IMO but I have to agree they are annoying!!!

1 point and €80 for fog lights!!!

White and yellow are legal in accordance with the vehicle lighting regulations

[Tragedy]

Whats the difference(legally) between foglights and spots?

[nice guy always]

Originally Posted by Tragedy

Whats the difference(legally) between foglights and spots?

Same thing. They are not high enough/power full enough to be headlights

[Tragedy]

So if a car has spots fitted(as different from front fogs), it's illegal to use them outside snow/fog?

[nice guy always]

Originally Posted by Tragedy

So if a car has spots fitted(as different from front fogs), it's illegal to use them outside snow/fog?

Yep. It can also come under inessential lights, I.E. all the LED lights you see on the front of trucks are illegal andsome are being prosecuted at the moment.

[Voodoomelon]

What about Audi or Mercedes LED dot lighting, or BMW angel eyes, there has to be a line drawn surely. All of the above are inessential.

[Rej]

I always use a general rule of thumb that if I can see the rear lights of 6 cars, then I dont need them.. obviously this only applies when driving in traffic

On a bit of an aside - I hate when people use their front fogs as a regular lights!!

[cascade35]

People using rear fog lights for no reason is even worse than using the front ones.
Was behind a car recently, it was raining heavy(unusual)he put on the rear fog light as soon as he saw me behind him and left it on.
Very studit and dangerous.

[Berty]

I forsee this thread going off in an awful direction so I may as well add my 2 cents.

Some people argue on these forums that fog lights are essential when driving in heavy rain.

Thats all good and well because these people understand how to switch on and off fog lights. Then there are the people who just turn the dial and switch on everything their car has to offer not knowing what kind of lights they have even switched on.

Then there was the L Driver last night in Bruff Co Limerick driving along in the instructors car with the fog lights on. They were stopped in traffic so I said "You know fog lights are illegal to use and not the best example for the learner" to which she replied "oh on the country roads you need them to see the pot holes"

Trucks with LEDs are not annoying except of late where trucks are using flashing LED's. Red's LED's are illegal and only to be used by emergency vehicles and recovery vehicles not on the back of trucks. Some have the white LEDs on the front but they are cheap a*ss units are flash near blue instead of white giving you a false belief as you approach them.

I have not have my fog lights on in nearly a year. No fog for me equals no lights but I do not have a problem with people who use their fog lights. I am not blinded by them unless its an Impreza or a Nissan Micra.

[cascade35]

What hope have we got when learner drivers are been told to use fog lights to light up pot holes!

[robtri]

There's a big difference in spots and fog lamps....
"Spots have a crystal clear lens and are used when main beam is used. Fog lamps have pattern len and are used when there is poor visibility and can only work when the sidelights are on" Uk regs but follow suit over here.

Fog lamps are not to be used unless conditions dictate that you should ,due to the fact they are too bright and should be aimed at a different angle to spots.

[peasant]

Originally Posted by Tragedy

Whats the difference(legally) between foglights and spots?

there is no such thing as "spots". The following lights can be found on a road legal car:

daytime running lights: Front lights only that come on as soon as the ignition is on and go off as soon as any of the "proper" lights are switched on

parking lights: dim bulbs at the front, normal rear lights. To be used when parking in unlit/dangerous areas. In some cars these are wired that only one side of the vehicle can be lit. They are not supposed to be used for driving

dipped headlights: normal front lights with an assymetrical beam pattern. To be used when driving in bad visibility or at night when there is oncoming traffic

full headlights: the normal headlights (sometimes in an additional lamp) with a full beam. Only to be used while driving at night when there is no danger of blinding other traffic.

front foglights: usually mounted low on the vehicle with a wide and short beam. Only to be used in fog (or heavy snow). The beam pattern is designed to shine under the fog and give you a view of the edge and the lines on the road. normal headlamps get reflected in the fog and just turn your view into a white wall, foglams help to light up the road and the edges so thatyou have some orientation.

rear foglights: one or two extra bright red rear lights to be used in thick fog only. The extra bright bulbs penetrate thick fog and make your car visible better for traffic from behind.

auxiliary driving lamps: these are extra full beam lamps that only may come on when full headlights are selected. Additional lights for dipped beam are illegal


and then there may be working lights that are only legal to use when the vehicle is off the road and/or stationary

[dudara]

Originally Posted by Berty

Then there are the people who just turn the dial and switch on everything their car has to offer not knowing what kind of lights they have even switched on.

There are a lot of people out there like that. I would be of the opinion that you should know what every light on your dashboard means. If you don't understand the indicator for the foglights then learn it.

[Padraig Mor]

Originally Posted by nice guy always

If my memory serves me right they may only be used in fog or falling snow.....but for the life of me I cannot find it in the statute book. I'll have to look when im back to work.

Section 51A RTA 1961-06 is what is used to prosecute for them. €80 and 2 penalty points for the FCPS.....bit harsh IMO but I have to agree they are annoying!!!

1 point and €80 for fog lights!!!

White and yellow are legal in accordance with the vehicle lighting regulations

My understanding is that it is against the spirit, but not the letter of the law to use foglights outside of fog or snow. IIRC the statute refers to foglights as being "designed for" use as above, but contains no specific prohibition on their use in other conditions.



edit: section 51 would seem to apply to being drunk on a horse and cart or bicycle!