Fog is a major health and safety hazard on the roads during the winter, leaving many people wondering how to drive safely. One of the best options is to install fog lights in your vehicles. Heavy fog may slow traffic on the roads and cause delays at important locations such as hospitals, railway terminals, and airports. Thick fog can also result in fatal car accidents.
The ‘Fog Lights’ were invented in response to the extremely dangerous driving conditions that occur during fog. As a result, fog lamps are designed to be installed in the vehicle’s front bumper to provide effective illumination on the road. This article will go over the importance of fog lights.
Driving Light vs Fog Light
Driving lights are low-beam headlights that supplement your high-beam headlights. They are angled forward to help you see at least 150 to 200 feet into the distance and are designed to provide a longer range. Unlike fog lights, these are standard equipment in all vehicles.
As previously stated, fog lights are angled downward and have a very short range. They are meant to light up the ground in front of you. Because fog usually begins about two feet above the ground, the light from your fog lamps should be angled to hit that area.
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What Are Fog Lights
Fog lights, also known as fog lamps, are small, block- or round-shaped lights located beneath the front headlights of your vehicle. They have angled in such a way that the light shines directly on the road ahead of you.
How Do Fog Lights Work
The design of halogen, HID, and LED fog lights is different and better suited for foggy conditions. The lights are angled sharply downwards, illuminating only the ground ahead of you and preventing you from becoming blinded (and other drivers).
Most fog lights are also yellowish, which allows them to penetrate deeper into fog than common headlight colors like blue or white. Although this is somewhat debatable in scientific circles, many fog light manufacturers conform to this convention. Because of the various designs, you will get the best results when using each light in the proper conditions.
When Should You Use Fog Lights
They’re only necessary when the weather is bad or it’s difficult to see the road ahead of you, which means you should save them for dangerous driving conditions like:
- Rain
- Snow
- Fog
- Mist
- Dust
Purpose of Rear (Back) Fog Lights
Back fog lights are designed to keep you from colliding with cars in front of you. Rear fog lights to aid in distance explanation and serve as an additional set of low-level lights for other drivers to see.
Importance of Fog Lights in Foggy Weather
Fog forms in the same way that clouds do—essentially it’s a massive cloud on the ground. Fog lights are designed specifically for situations where you must travel through foggy areas. Because of their low placement, the light they emit can hit the ground beneath rather than going straight into the fog and simply bouncing back, as the light from your headlamps does.
Importance of Fog Lights in Heavy Rain
Fog lights can also improve visibility in heavy rain. When used in heavy rain, high and low beams can cause glare, which is why fog lamps are necessary to help you see the road ahead of you.
Importance of Fog Lights in Dusty Weather
In some areas, a sand or dust storm may occur. This is where fog lights come in handy, as they can help you navigate the road ahead of you as you exit the highway or street and onto the shoulder.
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Fog Light Color and Kelvins
You’ve probably seen fog lights that emit yellow, white, blue, and amber light. Remember that the color of light is determined by its Kelvins. Choose yellow or amber light-emitting LEDs if you’re driving in dense fog. If the fog isn’t too thick and you need to see your surroundings, opt for white or blue light-emitting lights.
Because White lights tend to cast a glare in the presence of rain and snow, which can be puzzling, blinding, and dangerous. Yellow lights, on the other hand, can pierce through low visibility without glare, making it a gentler drive on the eyes.
| Colors | Kelvins |
| Yellow and Amber | Within 3,000 Kelvins |
| Blue | Around 6,000 Kelvins |
| White | Around 5,000 kelvins |
Safety and Visibility
In the automotive industry, safety has always been a top priority. This is why automakers continue to adopt cutting-edge technologies and incorporate the most innovative features into their cars to make them safer. The most important aspect of driving is visibility.
As a result, using fog lights on foggy days or at night is highly recommended. Fog lights are designed to cut through the fog and provide better visibility. These lights offer accuracy for a highly controlled light pattern to improve driver visibility in snow, rain, sleet, thick fog, and even blizzards.
Precautions During Driving in Fog
- Driving safely is equally important, which means you’ll need to adapt your driving style to challenging conditions.
- You can’t drive like normal in fog, even with the proper lighting setup.
- Slower speeds allow you to react to things you may not be able to see through the fog. Allow extra space between yourself and other vehicles if possible.
- Use flashers or hazard lights to make yourself visible.
- In the worst-case scenario, stop and wait for the fog to clear.
Best LED Fog lights for Cars Available in Pakistan
Some of the best-quality led fog lamps companies in Pakistan are
- Philips LED fog lights
- Hella led fog lights
- Beam tech
- Aux beam
Conclusion
While fog lamps are useful in some situations, they are not required in all low-visibility situations. These handy lights are there to help you see the ground better in bad weather situations, which is especially important for older drivers who are driving at night or in an unfamiliar area.