Fog Lights.

Hagar

AerTel Weather Page 20 Dec 06 wrote:

TUE 19 DEC

TODAY'S FORECAST 20.30

---

Dense fog persisting in most places
through the night with just a few clear
periods, mainly in the south. Icy
patches likely on untreated roads.

LOWEST TEMPERATURES: -2 to +2 Celsius

Fog will linger through the daylight
hours tomorrow in many places, but will
tend to clear in the west of the
country towards evening. Cold and damp.

HIGHEST TEMPERATURES: 4 to 7 Celsius.

Switch ON your fog lights !!!


I've waited a long time to say that:D

fletch

Its quite shocking the amount of people who don't even know what fog lights are and that they have them. Did anyone else hear the woman on Spin1038 yesterday morning who had to ring the radio station to ask where her fog light switch was! :eek:
Speaking to a lad in work yesterday and he didn't have a clue what a fog light was.....I'd expect that of a woman but not of a man!

Wishbone Ash

fletch wrote:

Its quite shocking the amount of people who don't even know what fog lights are and that they have them. Did anyone else hear the woman on Spin1038 yesterday morning who had to ring the radio station to ask where her fog light switch was! :eek:
Speaking to a lad in work yesterday and he didn't have a clue what a fog light was.....I'd expect that of a woman but not of a man!

The ignorance may stem from the fact that the fitting of fog lights (front or rear) is not a statutory legal requirement in Ireland. Presumably therefore, their use does not form part of the practical driving test.

cormie

None on my car. The fog was pretty thick last night at about 1am, you could still see cars no problem without fog lights though.

Tipsy Mac

The amount of idiots with fog lights on in bumper to bumper traffic was unbelievable, a clown ahead of me didnt turn his off despite me flashing him about 50 times and driving behind him with my full lights on for 2 miles, hopefully his eyes were as fooked as mine. The whole idea of fog lights is so that where you cannot see the normal rear lights of a car because of the fog the brighter rear fog light will allow other cars to see you.

Hagar

.

m_stan

Tipsy Mac wrote:

... a clown ahead of me didnt turn his off despite me flashing him about 50 times and driving behind him with my full lights on for 2 miles, hopefully his eyes were as fooked as mine...

yes that's a very mature and safe driving approach. we all see things we don't particularly agree with on the roads. Flashing lights to someone who doesn't know what they're doing is wrong, solves nothing. That and blinding someone with headlights is wreckless and is the type of behaviour that should be condemned by all.

Tipsy Mac

m_stan wrote:

yes that's a very mature and safe driving approach. we all see things we don't particularly agree with on the roads. Flashing lights to someone who doesn't know what they're doing it wrong, solves nothing. That and blinding someone with headlights is wreckless and is the type of behaviour that should be condemned by all.

Yes right whatever :rolleyes:

Ronan|Raven

Whatever about foglights dear lord use some lights! Just back from the petrol station for the morning calorie bomb and the amount of tools driving with no lights in the thick fog we have here is unreal.

Mr Magnolia

Tipsy Mac wrote:

The amount of idiots with fog lights on in bumper to bumper traffic was unbelievable.

Bugs me too, I generally just rear-end any one who has their fog lights on while bumper to bumper.

Rabies

Is it possible to have sticky for foglights were people can go to rant and moan about them.
I'm sure I'm not the only one that is fed up of the fog light moaning that oges on here each week.
One thread, and throw it all in there.

Trampas

I am amazed with the amount of cars with blow lights.

I can understand somebody going a day or 2 without knowing one of their back lights blow but front lights is unexcusable.

I even seen a car with its park lights on last night :eek:

Could all the Gardaí standing around doing operation free flow not do all these cars.

m_stan

Tipsy Mac wrote:

Yes right whatever :rolleyes:

child. get with it. what you are doing is wreckless. no discussion.

I am amazed by the amount of moaning and groaning that goes on here, and at the same time the amount of bragging done about dangerous driving practices like flashing lights and headlight blinding that goes on by the same people doing the moaning. To those people - you are contributing to the situation we have on our roads today where people are being injured and killed left right and center.

Tipsy Mac

m_stan wrote:

child. get with it. what you are doing is wreckless. no discussion.

Ok so I remain behind the car which is blinding me and any other car that drives behind it and do nothing about it, good tip :rolleyes:

m_stan

Tipsy Mac wrote:

Ok so I remain behind the car which is blinding me and any other car that drives behind it and do nothing about it, good tip :rolleyes:

no, you just don't in turn blind him for two miles. What don't you get about this ? Do you not realise this is dangerous for him, you, and every other driver on both sides of the road ? Do you not realise that you are making a bad situation worse ?

I'm not discussing this further. End of my posts. You are obviously of limited intelligence, so I refuse to discuss it with you.

Go learn to drive responsibly and come back to me when you're figured it out.

Wishbone Ash

Tipsy Mac wrote:

Ok so I remain behind the car which is blinding me and any other car that drives behind it and do nothing about it, good tip :rolleyes:

I agree that it is annoying Tipsy Mac but you can't have your cake and eat it. You brought yourself down (or below) the level of the other motorist by your actions and then you come on here complaining. You are making yourself difficult to take seriously.

All you had to do was to slow down and allow the car in front to go far enough ahead so that it doesn't bother you or pull over (if possible and legal) and allow someone else past.

endplate

Tipsy Mac wrote:

The amount of idiots with fog lights on in bumper to bumper traffic was unbelievable, a clown ahead of me didnt turn his off despite me flashing him about 50 times and driving behind him with my full lights on for 2 miles, hopefully his eyes were as fooked as mine. The whole idea of fog lights is so that where you cannot see the normal rear lights of a car because of the fog the brighter rear fog light will allow other cars to see you.

There's a term for that it's called road rage get over it don't be behaving like a spoilt brat. As usual these fog light threads tend to encourage roadrage with some posters.

If you didn't already notice indicators and brake lights are equally as bright just you decide to pass no remarks to them

Guy:Incognito

The amount of people driving around with their fog lights on the last couple of days is unreal. I hit 1 50 metre patch of fog where fog lights would have been justified at a push, but yet people hear on the radio that theres fog so they turn on the lights, gob****es.


"Well, I cant see fog myself, but the man on the radio said it's foggy in Ireland so on go the lights till they step down from Defcon 5"

cee_jay

I drove from Cork to Limerick today - and what bothered me the most was people driving with NO lights at all!. The fog was so thick in some places that I couldn't even see the white van behind me because he had no lights on.

maidhc

cAr0l wrote:

I drove from Cork to Limerick today - and what bothered me the most was people driving with NO lights at all!. The fog was so thick in some places that I couldn't even see the white van behind me because he had no lights on.

Bigger issue than a few people with fog lights on in a clear patch!

Seth Brundle

Driving home (in rush hour traffic) yesterday evening, I was passing the Sandyford industrial (at the luas stop road) when the 206 in front of me decided that it was time to stick on the fog light.
I flashed them - no response. Another flash - no response.
They eventually moved into the right lane (to go back into the industrial) and I managed to pull up beside them.
I politely told her that there was no need for her fog light!
Her response was "who says?"
I was actually lost for words!

Seth Brundle

Can I just add that in all my years, I have only had the need to use rear fog lights once and front lights twice!

overdriver

maidhc wrote:

Bigger issue than a few people with fog lights on in a clear patch!

No, different issue than that.


@kbannon. The attitiude of some drivers is, they have a feature, they use it at the first excuse. She also didn't want you telling her what to do, whether you were right or wrong/ That's what the main fogloght argument often boils down to.

My girlfriend's father uses them because he says on the back roads in Cavan where he drives - ANY extra light is good. Now, we know that's an illusion, and that whatever they'd light up, he'd have alreay passed by the time he sees it, and that also, he's most likely reducing the visibilty of anyone who is in an oncoming car.

But he won't have ME tell him what to do.

JamesM

kbannon wrote:

Can I just add that in all my years, I have only had the need to use rear fog lights once and front lights twice!

Was driving towards canal from KCR yesterday evening. All the traffic against me coming out of town. NO FOG. I have never seen so many front fog lights on

buttonfreak

People think it looks cool, the front fog lights.

It BeeMee

Nah. It's just their little way of saying "Look at me; I've been let out on my own for once"

Bless!

Nuttzz

drove dublin-ennis-dublin the day & night before last, at times in the midlands there was about 50m of visability and people driving with no foggies on, comming back at times there was only about 10m of visability with just outside roscrea being the worst spot. counted 8 cars without no lights on at all during the day 6 women/2men they could easily of killed some of the feckwits who decided to overtake on a single carriageway with 100m of visability!

Supercell

I drive with my front fogs on on the coutry roads coming home and make no apologies about doing so.

If anyone disagrees - try driving a normal hatchback up the mountains in the dark,when a 4x4 or truck comes the opposite way and tell me that the extra ditch illumination doesnt help keep you on the road.
If still not convinced, try driving in the rain or drizzle up same mountain roads and then come back on yer pedestal.
I switch them off before joining traffic anywhere else.

As to

that whatever they'd light up, he'd have alreay passed by the time he sees it

Clearly you don't have much experience night time country road driving (driving a vehicle with low seating height) - When a vehicle like a 4x4 or truck comes your way on a narrow road...you have to slow to about 5mph to make way for them otherwise you'll end up in the ditch - the exact thing the fogs are good at lighting up!

Alun

Longfield wrote:

If anyone disagrees - try driving a normal hatchback up the mountains in the dark,when a 4x4 or truck comes the opposite way and tell me that the extra ditch illumination doesn't help keep you on the road.

Yes, I do that all the time, and I do disagree and I'll tell you exactly that. If you're looking at the piece of road in the short distance in front of the car between your front bumper and where your headlights start then you're either driving at 10mph, or driving dangerously by not looking far enough ahead of you.

If still not convinced, try driving in the rain or drizzle up same mountain roads and then come back on yer pedestal.

Again, I do it all the time, as do many others here, without the aid of foglights. I suggest you get your normal headlights looked at urgently if they're not up to scratch.

Supercell

Alun wrote:

If you're looking at the piece of road in the short distance in front of the car between your front bumper and where your headlights start then you're either driving at 10mph, or driving dangerously by not looking far enough ahead of you.

Well my point was that if you are looking ahead you are totally utterly blinded by certain vehicles, the only thing that keeps you on the road is to look down and to the left where the ditch is and go ahead dead slow

I suggest you get your normal headlights looked at urgently if they're not up to scratch.

They're fine thanks
Think we will have to agree to disagree on this one as I'm not going to be swayed at all, and neither are you either probably, each to his own.

overdriver

Longfield wrote:

Clearly you don't have much experience night time country road driving (driving a vehicle with low seating height) - When a vehicle like a 4x4 or truck comes your way on a narrow road...you have to slow to about 5mph to make way for them otherwise you'll end up in the ditch - the exact thing the fogs are good at lighting up!

My job involves doing exactly that - night time driving, country roads. I have to disagree with you on your point for the following reason.
30 mph ( 50 kph)is about 44 feet per second. Night time back roads driving can be almost twice that, most of the time - 50 to 60 mph ( 80 -1 00 kph). Add reaction time, 1 second to 1.5 seconds, and the sums negate your contention. The comfort it's giving you is a placebo - nothing more.

colm_mcm

I think fog lights are a greaty way of letting your fellow driver know that you could afford one up from the base model.

Supercell

overdriver wrote:

My job involves doing exactly that - night time driving, country roads. I have to disagree with you on your point for the following reason.
30 mph ( 50 kph)is about 44 feet per second. Night time back roads driving can be almost twice that, most of the time - 50 to 60 mph ( 80 -1 00 kph). Add reaction time, 1 second to 1.5 seconds, and the sums negate your contention. The comfort it's giving you is a placebo - nothing more.

I slow down when dazzled (or think I'm about to be when I see the fecking huge beams coming over the hill or the distance).....
If I didn't slow to safe speeds when almost driving blind due to being dazzled you would be correct, but I think its a good idea to go dead slow when you cant see the road ahead, thus that brightly lit ditch is a good thing no?
If you peg it down country lanes happily at whatever the speed limit is regardless of whether you can see the road properly or not then fair play, hope I'm not near you when you misjudge the distance you are from the ditch the one time your luck runs out.

maidhc

Longfield wrote:

I drive with my front fogs on on the coutry roads coming home and make no apologies about doing so.

If anyone disagrees - try driving a normal hatchback up the mountains in the dark,when a 4x4 or truck comes the opposite way and tell me that the extra ditch illumination doesnt help keep you on the road.
If still not convinced, try driving in the rain or drizzle up same mountain roads and then come back on yer pedestal.
I switch them off before joining traffic anywhere else.

I agree.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

I just love fog light threads.....I drive with my front fogs on in the country...I find the extra light good and they dont dazle anyone cause they are too low. I think rear fogs are silly except in fog but I dont get worked up. Worse are the people with their Xenon light set too high or a new set of HIDS which are like lazers scalding you eyeballs. But heay....their car, if it makes them happy then lets get in the sprit of christmas and be more relaxed and patient with others.

overdriver

Longfield wrote:

If you peg it down country lanes happily at whatever the speed limit is regardless of whether you can see the road properly or not then fair play, hope I'm not near you when you misjudge the distance you are from the ditch the one time your luck runs out.

Where did I say I "peg it " down country lanes? Don't be misquoting me to cast aspersions or to strengthen your argument, please. What I said is that night time driving can be twice 50 kph. Which it can. The main roads don't get closed when it's dark.

At least you have the good grace to switch them off when you're in towns, or whatever. Unlike a lot of people here.

It seems that no matter what evidence to the contrary is provided here, there are still some drivers who will say that fogs don't dazzle because they're "too low". Despite rakes of threads by people who find them dazzling, and despite the fact it's illegal and inconsiderate to use them when conditions are good. If you contend so strongly they don't cause discomfort to other drivers, then how come they do?

dahamsta

Those fairies have oversensitive eyes, they should see a doctor. Or a counsellor. Probably the latter, given their proclivity to whining.

(I've given up driving with my fogs on just to annoy these pussies, but I might just start again if the mods in here don't pull their fingers out of their arses and finally do something about the weekly bloody fogs threads. I think someone was asking about new forums the other day, perhaps we could get one for the people that bitch about fogs, and lob the ones that bitch about beamer drivers in there while we're at it? Force the Skoda drivers in there too, make the world a better place. Dreary slow bastards.)

adam

overdriver

And there we have it.

6ix

With all these fog light threads, I did a straw poll among 4/5 friends and colleagues, all of whom have been driving for years. None of them have ever had problems with dazzle from front fog lights. I have never had a problem with front fog lights either, and I know my eyes can be quite sensitive (squinting in photos on sunny days!).

However, I regularly have problems with rear fog lights and mis adjusted dipped headlights. While I respect everyone's opinion, I really dont know how people get so worked up about front fogs.

dahamsta

I can understand it when people get pissed off over misdirected foglights, but those are the fault of the driver, not an issue with lights themselves.

More importantly, many of the people complaining here specifically say that all fogs cause them trouble. I simply can't understand this. Fogs point down, the only time correctly directed fogs can dazzle is in the very limited circumstance when the oncoming car is cresting a hill. If all fogs are dazzling these people, then dips must dazzle them too; unless they have some kind of magnificent eye muscles that can differentiate between light that's directed down, and light that's directed forward and to the left. Or they're liars. I know which explanation I believe.

People that drive with their rear foglights on, except in the very rare circumstances when usage is correct, should of course be put against a wall and shot.

adam

Victor

dahamsta wrote:

People that drive with their rear foglights on, except in the very rare circumstances when usage is correct, should of course be put against a wall and shot.

Ah, just arm your barge with some light seeking missiles.

overdriver

dahamsta wrote:

I can understand it when people get pissed off over misdirected foglights, but those are the fault of the driver, not an issue with lights themselves.

I would agree with that. However, a fair number of them seem to be misaligned, and the confusion here seems to arise from the fact that people say they shouldn't be on in good conditions anyway. No fog, no ( misaligned) fog lights, no problem. Of course that can be argued no misaligned fogs, no problem. Micra's seem to have ridiculously bright fogs, I have noticed.

dahamsta wrote:

More importantly, many of the people complaining here specifically say that all fogs cause them trouble.

I didn't see anyone that anywhere. Link, please.

dahamsta wrote:

If all fogs are dazzling these people, then dips must dazzle them too; unless they have some kind of magnificent eye muscles that can differentiate between light that's directed down, and light that's directed forward and to the left. Or they're liars. I know which explanation I believe.

Facetious and sweeping comments don't contrbute to the debate here - and that's all it is - a debate. i doubt anyone is going to alter their behaviour based on what's written here.

dahamsta wrote:

People that drive with their rear foglights on, except in the very rare circumstances when usage is correct, should of course be put against a wall and shot.

adam

I would agree with you on that.

Just for clarity -(Oh, the irony of that!) - dazzling is not neccessarily the problem. Fogs can create a "pool of light" on wet roads. If there was fog around that would be less likely to happen.

LordSutch

After living & working in Britain & Europe it is striking to see the amount of cars that drive around in Ireland with their Fog lights ON (even when there is no Fog)!

I have lost count of the number of cars that have their Dipped Headlights turned OFF but their Fog Lights turned ON How Bizzar is that!!!

By the way ~ I am talking about "Front Fogs" and not rear ones.

I reckon that its either complete ignorance on the part of "some" Irish drivers, or they think that Fog Lights look cool ................ ?

Status Symbol?

Whatever the reason for this Irish Fog Light fetish, it brings a broad smile to my face every time I come back to Ireland from shores afar.

dahamsta

Victor wrote:

Ah, just arm your barge with some light seeking missiles.

I did, but the targetting system was developed by the Pentagon, so my missiles ended up taking out speccy kid in a playground in Tullamore.

overdriver wrote:

I didn't see anyone that anywhere. Link, please.

Troll through these and you'll find several references. I don't have time to deal with Boards.ie's ridiculous lack of a useful search engine.

Facetious and sweeping comments don't contrbute to the debate here - and that's all it is - a debate.

You make absolutely no attempt to refute my assertions and you call my comments "facetious and sweeping"? Debate? I do not think that word means what you think it means.

overdriver

I did refute the assertions I disagreed with, agreed with those I did agree with, and I know what a debate is. However, do feel free to furnish us with what your definition of "debate" is. I should have thought it was a universally understood word, but if you feel I haven't grasped it's meaning, do tell me.

Calling people liars IS facetious. Why on earth would people lie about it? What have they to gain?

Again, having "trawled" through those posts you linked to, there's nobody who specifically said "all foglights" dazzle them.

maidhc

overdriver wrote:

there's nobody who specifically said "all foglights" dazzle them.

Its the inference being made. From reading some of these silly threads you would swear front foglights meant instant death for all who see them.

I always use them when driving on country roads. They light up the, "undulating" road surface directly in front of the car. That is a good thing. If they offend people, tough, because they are not blinding.

LundiMardi

heh heh, the fog was quite a novelty for me this week.. I got to use my fog lights for the SECOND time in about 3 years!!! YUS.. So not only was i being practical, my car looked cooler than normal!! :rolleyes: