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Forgot to add something .... 200 1986

Hi, again. In rereading the next day what I wrote, I forgot to add, for anyone installing and aiming their fog lights, that:

1) aiming fog lights downward enhances its benefit to the driver (in addition to being considerate of others drivers ahead). Noting that the ideal goal of foglights is to illuminate the road and obstacles ahead while minimizing backscatter and glare, by aiming down, you are placing the beam below your line of vision -- and therefore minimizing the light that will reflect back in your own eyes. Mostly only objects and obstacles that appear in the beam, because of their surface, will reflect light back at you. Thus, lower aimed fog lights have more penetrating ability and less blinding glare.

2) Remember, foglights are NOT driving lights -- their design (e.g., their top cutoff) is for bad weather, to help you see in conditions of rain and fog and snow.
Admittedly, some folks use fog lights as an adjunct to their low beams in the country, to see as they go around a country road's curve, because of the fog light's wider beam pattern. That's OK, as long as the lamps are aimed low. Better is to replace your headlights with European E-code headlights, whose beam pattern will provide the wider coverage you seek, and also has a sharp cutoff similar to fog lights.

3) In contrast to fog lights, Driving lights* are meant for clear nights (not bad weather, when they'll just cause glare back at you and reduce your own visibility). They are not fog lights, and shouldn't be used in traffic, but are an adjunct to, and should be "on" only when you can also use, your high beams. Turn off driving lights (and also don't use high beams) in bad weather, as their light will readily reflect back in your eyes and reduce your vision of the road ahead.
[ * There are other lights ("auxiliary lights" I recall) that are supposed to be used as an adjunct to low beams, but they have a special beam pattern that is similar to fog lights but with a central "hot" spot -- these can be used with low beams in traffic without blinding other drivers; but these are not "driving lights" and they shouldn't be confused with them.]

Good luck, and be considerate of other drivers' vision. We're all trying to see at night, not just you!
Thanks.






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New AMBER vs CLEAR LENES FOR FOG LIGHTS [200][1986]
posted by  Xraybob  on Sat Oct 30 11:05 CST 2004 >


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