Foglights on Today FM now

mike65

www.todayfm.com

http://www.todayfm.com/article.asp?id=15131

Also 101-102 FM

Should be "fun"

Mike

Berty

Just some quotes whilst I was listening. Its hard to type fast and listen.

"Drivers of cars such as BMWs or Honda or such like"

"Quite hard on the eyes"

"Rear ones are even but the front ones are distracting and dazzling"

"Recommendation""Must know when to use fog lights and only use in dense fog or heavy snow"

"Broken headlights or one eyed jacks""look like motorbikes"

"using rear fogs lights can be mistaken for tail lights"

"rear fogs dazzle drivers"

"glare in the rear view mirror when using front fog lights"

"only use them when it foggy and snowy"

"1st group use them as spot lights and fashion accessory"

"2ng group think they provide better lighting"

"3rd group dont even know they are there or dont understand how to use them"

"4th group dont understand the buttons or the symbols that are on the car"

"Matt said" why dont people hoot them out of it when using their fog lights like the do when your dipped arent on or are full on?"

"Gardai have said it is an offence and will advise them to turn them off but there is no penalty points of fines".

There are just the highlights.

Hal1

I missed it dang it, just tuned in as he was saying bye to them. Do todayfm record all their programs?

EDIT: Just seen you highlighted the main points discussed.

mike65

They do (check the page for Last Word) but the above presie is very accurate.

Mike

kikel

quirke_folder wrote: »

Just some quotes whilst I was listening. Its hard to type fast and listen.

Good job

Hal1

They update their broadcasts at 7.30pm. Link.

kikel

quirke_folder wrote: »

"Matt said" why dont people hoot them out of it when using their fog lights like the do when your dipped arent on or are full on?"

Taught this was interesting, Always taught the same myself. To start flashing Fog light drivers would be the way to solve this problem but i see this a danger also. If a person is blinding you the correct procedure is not to flash but slow down AFAIK

Hal1

kikel wrote: »

Taught this was interesting, Always taught the same myself. To start flashing Fog light drivers would be the way to solve this problem but i see this a danger also. If a person is blinding you the correct procedure is not to flash but slow down AFAIK

I'm not quoting the ROTR but to my knowledge it's, slow down or stop if necessary and look at the verge at your side of the road.

It BeeMee

quirke_folder wrote: »

"Gardai have said it is an offence and will advise them to turn them off but there is no penalty points of fines".

I often wonder would "Driving without reasonable consideration" cover it? (2 points, €80)

Or what does that normally cover? (it sounds like a "catch-all")

colm_mcm

Is this a foglight thread that got in under the radar?

Robbo

colm_mcm wrote: »

Is this a foglight thread that got in under the radar?

I think Matt's researchers might dip in here now and then.

Although when he does a piece on the awesome power of the 1.9 VAG Tdi, he'll have gone too far...

mike65

Special dispensation for threads started by retired Motors Mods

Mike

peasant

mike65 wrote: »

Special dispensation for threads started by retired Motors Mods

Mike

Or so you would like to believe

kikel

mike65 wrote: »

Special dispensation for threads started by retired Motors Mods

Mike

BAN HIM


only kiddin

Berty

What got me was he insinuation that people drivings BMW's, Honda's and such like........................such like what???

Here is one main issue. If foglights are so damn important then why are they an added extra on cars?

So the bigger and more expensive cars generally come with them as standard. BMW are standard(AFAIK) and Honda's come with everything(usually).

Little Fiesta & Micra drivers(and such like) whom buy the smallest entry level model get nothing with their cars and are lucky to get rear fog lights.

I had a Toyota Hi-lux which came from a main dealer and the main dealer had to install a fog light when he received delivery of it. Madness!!

Anan1

quirke_folder wrote: »

Little Fiesta & Micra drivers(and such like) whom buy the smallest entry level model get nothing with their cars and are lucky to get rear fog lights.

Funny you should say that, the previous model Micra had the brightest front fogs in its class! Always on too.

regedit

It has never been as bad as it is this year (or something is wrong with my eye sight). Travelling from Newbridge yesterday and at one set of traffic lights, 14 cars came my direction, out of which 8 had their fog lights on!
It's an easy money making machine for the revenue. Give people 2 penalty point for dangerous driving (at the end of the day, that's what they are doing).
One question, is it morally acceptable if a car is coming in your direction and blinding you with his Halfords fog light to shine your fog light at him (her most cases) just as a warning?
About a month ago on the RCR, a car was tailgating me with foglights on. Finally at NLX, at the traffic lights I switched my back fog light just to warn him that he was blinding me. He got really upset and blared the full headlams at me and started gesticulating!
Having worked with people from the continent who do not think much about our driving culture, most of them were shocked with the indiscriminate use of foglights left-right and centre.
End of rant

Guy:Incognito

The easy solution is to make the foglight dash light flicker on and off or a beep that goes when the foglights have been on for more than 10 mins or so.

It would most likely only happen once to each eejit that doesnt know what foglights are for or that they exist before they check the manual/ask online or a friend or go to a dealer to be educated.

Type 17

quirke_folder wrote: »

Here is one main issue. If foglights are so damn important then why are they an added extra on cars?

So the bigger and more expensive cars generally come with them as standard. BMW are standard(AFAIK) and Honda's come with everything(usually).

Little Fiesta & Micra drivers(and such like) whom buy the smallest entry level model get nothing with their cars and are lucky to get rear fog lights.

I had a Toyota Hi-lux which came from a main dealer and the main dealer had to install a fog light when he received delivery of it. Madness!!

Rear fogs are mandatory on new cars now.
Front fogs are still optional (legally), but are included on more and more cars as items that were extras have become standard items.
Also, a lot of cars sold in Ireland in the past were based on UK-spec models (with the good bits removed because of VRT), but front fogs ended up on a lot of cars sold here because of that (they need front fogs a lot more as the UK gets a lot more fog than we do, and it's often much denser too)

.Longshanks.

Stekelly wrote: »

The easy solution is to make the foglight dash light flicker on and off or a beep that goes when the foglights have been on for more than 10 mins or so.

It would most likely only happen once to each eejit that doesnt know what foglights are for or that they exist before they check the manual/ask online or a friend or go to a dealer to be educated.

So what happens when you need to drive 30mins in the fog? You will then end up with eejit's driving in dangerous conditions with no lights!

Guy:Incognito

Longshanks100 wrote: »

So what happens when you need to drive 30mins in the fog? You will then end up with eejit's driving in dangerous conditions with no lights!

You can flick it off and on again. Like with the wipers if you are driving in light rain or drizzle.

Either way, when your in fog (I've never been in fog for 30 mins here) and you know how to use your fog lights properly, you'll know the blinking light on your dash is a reminder and not a "your car is goingto blow up" light.

Tropheus

I heard the piece and it covered the issue well. It's a pet hate of mine.

I would say that around 30% of drivers use their front fogs at night. Some even use them during the day:rolleyes:. They don't provide that much extra light so it's a fashion thing. Some are worse than others when it comes to glaring.

It's something you rarely see in the UK as they enforce the law. It's illegal to use them unless visibility is below 100 meters which equates to pretty thick fog.

Besides the midlands, we rarely get conditions that justifies their use. If we do, you have idiots driving around with their rear foglights on for weeks afterwards.

I don't think a fine is the answer. The Gards should be allowed smash them with a hammer if they are being used in the wrong circumstances. That would sort it.

There's a guy around Donabate who has done a xenon conversion on his old model Celica on both the headlights and similar sized fogs on the modified bumper. A plane will land on his car one of these days. It is absolutely blinding and every car he passes must flash him. But hey, it looks cool:cool:

P.C.

Just a quick one, and appologies if it has already been covered.

In my experience of modern cars, you have to turn on your lights, then turn on the fog lights. They are not like rain sensing wipers, which come on when the sensors pick up rain on the windscreen. You actually have to turn on the fog lights. To me, this means that the person who turns them on has either been shown, or has read the owners manuel.

This tells me that they know that they have turned on their fog lights.

Now the question that I want answered is:

When there is no fog, what made them decide to turn on their fog lights?

Guy:Incognito

P.C. wrote: »

Just a quick one, and appologies if it has already been covered.

In my experience of modern cars, you have to turn on your lights, then turn on the fog lights. They are not like rain sensing wipers, which come on when the sensors pick up rain on the windscreen. You actually have to turn on the fog lights. To me, this means that the person who turns them on has either been shown, or has read the owners manuel.

This tells me that they know that they have turned on their fog lights.

Now the question that I want answered is:

When there is no fog, what made them decide to turn on their fog lights?

A lot of the time, fogs are a smaller twisty part of the light stalk. I'd say a lot of (stupid) people get into their cars and just turn every bit of the light stalk so that all the lights they have are on.

They should be on a switch on the dash anywaym kept away from the light stalk altogether.

L1011

Stekelly wrote: »

They should be on a switch on the dash anywaym kept away from the light stalk altogether.

They usually are aren't they?

I'm spoilt by Italian idiot-proofing some times. Lights go off when engine goes off. Foglights and beams cancel when car is restarted but dips don't. Foglights are two seperate buttons on the centre console.

I really struggle to see why people have such a problem with front fogs. They are not blinding by any stretch of the imagination and I dont know how people can handle glare on a sunny day if they are so blinded by fog lights. Any extra light no matter how minimal should be used. I always have my dims and fogs on day and night if for no other reason but to annoy people who dont like it!:D:D

Boskowski

P.C. wrote: »

To me, this means that the person who turns them on has either been shown, or has read the owners manuel.

Got stopped recently by lady standing next to a Renault. She stood there waving by the side of the road and the hazard lights were on. 'Sorry, I know I shouldn't be let out at all...this' my sons car and I don't know how to turn these blinking lights off?'

kikel

Joy Loud Upstart wrote: »

I really struggle to see why people have such a problem with front fogs. They are not blinding by any stretch of the imagination and I dont know how people can handle glare on a sunny day if they are so blinded by fog lights. Any extra light no matter how minimal should be used. I always have my dims and fogs on day and night if for no other reason but to annoy people who dont like it!:D:D

Your cool. :pac:

Sorry coouldn't help myself

faceman

Rather than talking about punters who have them on unnecessarily, they should be talking about muppets who DONT have them on when required.

Aside from fog and snow, I would argue there are times in torrential rain on motorways/dual carriageways, when fogs are necessary when visibility is poor.

Hal1

Yay foglight's in the rain :pac:, why don't ye put mirror's on the panel's of your car while your at it.

FredH3as

Muppet Irish drivers haven't got a clue

robz150

Got out of my car at the traffic lights last week
and asked the Driver in front to turn off his rear Fog lights.
Wasn't sure what kind of reaction I'd get but luckily he just looked
embarrassed :pac:. Not something I'd normally do but they were burning holes in my eyes. :cool:

tossy

Im convinced there is a type of irish driver that gets into their car and turns on every light possible on it before driving anywhere.

Almost as bad is the driver who turns on their rear fog light in heavy fog (fair play) but then leaves it on when they enter a town or well lit area even though there is traffic relatively close behind.

Rear fog lights in the rain is almost a must and pretty common on the continent to the extent where if it starts to rain heavily you can look up ahead and see the fog lights come on one by one,and when it stops you can see them all go off.

Gryzor

front fogs used to be exclusive, hence attained "cool" status in this country, cars were expensive enough that few people would pay the extra for optional front fogs. Now every second car has them....people just use them for the cool factor...

can't say they've ever overly bothered me, don't find them blinding. I've been blinded far more times by dipped beams pointing skyward...

TheNog

Jesus how I hate foglights

It would be fair to say that a third of people drive with them on and about 2/3 of people realise they are on but don't realise they can be prosecuted.

I stopped a young petrol head and asked him to turn off his foglights. He said "There not foglights, they are spot lights". I honestly couldn't believe he said it.

It BeeMee

The amount of surplus lighting used on a car is inversely proportional to the IQ of the driver.

-Chris-

I'm far more annoyed by rear foglights on than front - I don't find front fogs particularly blinding.
If I'm behind someone driving with their rear fogs on in normal conditions, I actually have to keep reminding myself that they're not braking and I consciously ignore all the lights at the rear except for the high-level brake light.

I shouldn't have to waste concentration/attention span on stupid things like that, I've enough to be keeping an eye on when I'm driving. :mad::mad::mad:

Berty

TheNog wrote: »

Jesus how I hate foglights

It would be fair to say that a third of people drive with them on and about 2/3 of people realise they are on but don't realise they can be prosecuted.

I stopped a young petrol head and asked him to turn off his foglights. He said "There not foglights, they are spot lights". I honestly couldn't believe he said it.

I take it you were on duty otherwise vigilante springs to mind.

Was that the only reason you stopped him? If so, no wonder they feel victimised, young people that is. Would you have chased down and stopped a middle aged man in a suit and a Ford Mondeo if he had his fogs on?

If that was not the only reason the fair enough its none of my business.

I dont have a problem with people using their fogs. They dont affect me ever unless its a Micra or an old shape Almera or a SUV/Jeep or of course an Impreza.

Gregor Samsa

FredH3as wrote: »

Muppet Irish drivers haven't got a clue

You think it only happens here? :rolleyes:

UK: http://www.weeklygripe.co.uk/a249.asp
US: http://www.thepiratescove.us/2008/04/05/top-10-driving-idiots/ (first comment below list)

Henry Ford III

phutyle wrote: »

You think it only happens here? :rolleyes:

UK: http://www.weeklygripe.co.uk/a249.asp
US: http://www.thepiratescove.us/2008/04/05/top-10-driving-idiots/ (first comment below list)

I happens here a lot though.

ednwireland

i actually dont mind front fogs ( or are they driving lights ?) especially on the dark country roads i drive on i need as much light as possible so to all the people i've annoyed sorry

TheBazman

I dont think (most) front fog lights are blinding. I do have front fogs but never use them, but I certainly wont be driving along counting the number of other cars that have them on. I find most aftermarket xenon conversions a lot more blinding.

As for rear fog lights Grrr!! There was patches of fog on my way into work this morning and I just cant see why people "forget" to turn them off when they are past the fog. It's not that much effort. I usually give them a little flick of my own rear fogs when I overtake to remind them but whether the penny drops or not I dont know

Tabnabs

Robbo wrote: »

I think Matt's researchers might dip in here now and then.

Or they just react to the letters page in that days IT

The fixation with fog-lights

Madam, - David Fitzgerald (November 1st) points out the obsession Irish drivers have with using their fog-lights. Part of the problem, I believe, is other road-users' tolerance of this practice. If I were to drive after dark with full headlight beams on constantly, other drivers would rightly flash their lights at me. The same does not happen when fog-lights are incorrectly used, and are blinding oncoming drivers.

The Garda seems also to be blind to the illegality of the practice. Perhaps the Road Safety Authority could mount a TV advertising campaign which would show the warning light on the dashboard (which, for those who don't know, consists of a headlight symbol with zig-zag patterns through the beam) and emphasise that if it isn't foggy, this light should not be on. - Yours, etc,

DAVID POWER, Grange Manor, Lucan, Co Dublin.

© 2008 The Irish Times

tw0nk

Joy Loud Upstart wrote: »

I really struggle to see why people have such a problem with front fogs. They are not blinding by any stretch of the imagination and I dont know how people can handle glare on a sunny day if they are so blinded by fog lights. Any extra light no matter how minimal should be used. I always have my dims and fogs on day and night if for no other reason but to annoy people who dont like it!:D:D

They are blinding at nighttime compared to low beam lights and you can wear sunglasses during day for glare. But yeah other posters are right, your "cool".

regedit

Joy Loud Upstart wrote: »

I really struggle to see why people have such a problem with front fogs. They are not blinding by any stretch of the imagination and I dont know how people can handle glare on a sunny day if they are so blinded by fog lights. Any extra light no matter how minimal should be used. I always have my dims and fogs on day and night if for no other reason but to annoy people who dont like it!:D:D

Ban!

regedit

ksimpson wrote: »

I don't think a fine is the answer. The Gards should be allowed smash them with a hammer if they are being used in the wrong circumstances. That would sort it.

+1

ksimpson wrote: »

There's a guy around Donabate who has done a xenon conversion on his old model Celica on both the headlights and similar sized fogs on the modified bumper. A plane will land on his car one of these days. It is absolutely blinding and every car he passes must flash him. But hey, it looks cool.

Mother of God!

Quint

MYOB wrote: »

I'm spoilt by Italian idiot-proofing some times. Lights go off when engine goes off. Foglights and beams cancel when car is restarted but dips don't. Foglights are two seperate buttons on the centre console.

I always wondered why all cars don't do this. It would stop 90% of flat batteries too.

andrewh5

Joy Loud Upstart wrote: »

I really struggle to see why people have such a problem with front fogs. They are not blinding by any stretch of the imagination and I dont know how people can handle glare on a sunny day if they are so blinded by fog lights. Any extra light no matter how minimal should be used. I always have my dims and fogs on day and night if for no other reason but to annoy people who dont like it!:D:D

Twat! It is illegal for starters! Try reading the ROTR.

tw0nk

tw0nk wrote: »

They are blinding at nighttime compared to low beam lights and you can wear sunglasses during day for glare. But yeah other posters are right, your "cool".

I have never spoken to a person in the real word(outside the internet) who finds front fogs blinding. I was actually telling it to someone this morning who wouldnt be a boards user how people get so worked up about fogs and he started laughing. He couldnt understand how people had such an issue with them.

Im only posting my opinion and I really cant see how they bother people cos they sure dont blind me and as I said before any extra bit if light should be used on a car in my opinion.

Also the bit at the end of my last post about annoying people was a joke;) so no need for calls to have me banned or name calling.

Anan1

Joy Loud Upstart wrote: »

I have never spoken to a person in the real word(outside the internet) who finds front fogs blinding. I was actually telling it to someone this morning who wouldnt be a boards user how people get so worked up about fogs and he started laughing. He couldnt understand how people had such an issue with them.

I'd have to agree that most front fogs don't dazzle. The real problem with front fogs is that they mess with our perception of distance. Because fogs are closer to the ground, the car appears at first glance to be further away than it really is. I'm sure you can appreciate how potentially dangerous this is. Now that you know, will you turn yours off?:)

andrewh5

Look lads, the simple fact is that it is illegal to use front foglights unless it is fog where the visibility is less than 100 metres or in falling heavy snow.

The gardaí should be enforcing the law end of.