# Is it rude to leave your fog lights on? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 30, 2015, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831 "2015-06-30T01:56:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/1 "2015-06-30T01:56:22Z")
Probably a silly question, but I’ve never had them before and I haven’t registered if others have. I know to turn off my brights when oncoming cars approach – do I need to do the same with these fog lights? They’re the kind down below the regular headlights, so I am assuming no? ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Krupe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Leo\_Krupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Krupe)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/2 "2015-06-30T02:03:41Z")
Yes, it is rude, although many will say otherwise. I find them to be very irritating, especially on larger trucks like Rams, or F-350s or that class. Many times, I find the fog lights to be brighter than the headlights, but that’s because the damned truck body is sitting so high, that the headlights angle too high, and so to get a better view of the immediate road, fog lights are (allegedly) necessary. But they’re not. They’re mostly style. If you don’t want to be such a dick about it, at least use amber fog lights, rather than 5 million candlepower white lights. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/3 "2015-06-30T02:07:23Z")
I’ve got this little kind. Still dickish? (Serious question!) [http://lln.mnmcdn.com/photos/content/january2012/thumbnails5.0/impreza-ri-3\_653.jpg](http://lln.mnmcdn.com/photos/content/january2012/thumbnails5.0/impreza-ri-3_653.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/4 "2015-06-30T02:10:09Z")
Mine don’t turn off. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/5 "2015-06-30T02:53:16Z")
Yes. Still, since the cops have stopped giving tickets to people who have decided to stop using blinkers to change lanes and who have intentionally obscured their license plate numbers to avoid camera tickets, and who drive with blue handicapped tags when there is absolutely nothing wrong with them, you’re probably OK. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/6 "2015-06-30T04:21:53Z")
No. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/7 "2015-06-30T04:52:23Z")
Properly aimed fog lights cast their light down low, close to the road. I don’t see how they could bother an oncoming driver. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/8 "2015-06-30T04:54:50Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > Properly aimed fog lights cast their light down low, close to the road. I don’t see how they could bother an oncoming driver. Yeah, the ones described by **Leo Krupe** are misaligned. I wouldn’t turn off my fog lights - if they’re on, it’s because I can’t fucking see without them, and that means if I turn them off you can’t see me! ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/9 "2015-06-30T04:57:10Z")
In South Australia it’s not just rude, it’s illegal. Check for similar rules in your state/country. > [@](#): > > Fog lights must be capable of being switched on and off independently of any headlights and must only be able to be switched on when the parking lights are on. > > **Fog lights can only be used in fog or conditions with reduced visibility.** My bolding. [https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/transport-travel-and-motoring/motoring/vehicles-and-registration/vehicle-standards-and-modifications/lighting-and-instrumentation](https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/transport-travel-and-motoring/motoring/vehicles-and-registration/vehicle-standards-and-modifications/lighting-and-instrumentation) ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/10 "2015-06-30T05:22:56Z")
There was a thread about this a while back. In terms of cars, not trucks, with OEM ‘fog lights’ like the ones in the linked photo I firmly say: No. You don’t need to turn them off like high beams. I routinely see cars coming at me with them turned on and they’re nothing like high beams. For that matter you don’t really need to turn them _ **ON** _ in fog, because they don’t do shit for fog\*!\* (other than light up the pavement 20 feet in front of you). They’re strictly for looks… ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/11 "2015-06-30T05:32:09Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > In South Australia it’s not just rude, it’s illegal. I didn’t see anything in the link indicating it was illegal to leave fog lights on when being approached by an oncoming driver. And if it were illegal: “Fog lights …must only be able to be switched on when the parking lights are on.” So you’re driving in a fog using the fog lights, which means no headlights are per the above quote, and you’re supposed to turn them off when a driver approaches? And drive without either headlights or fog lights? That makes no sense. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/12 "2015-06-30T07:08:34Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > I didn’t see anything in the link indicating it was illegal to leave fog lights on when being approached by an oncoming driver. And if it were illegal: > > “Fog lights …must only be able to be switched on when the parking lights are on.” > > So you’re driving in a fog using the fog lights, which means no headlights are per the above quote, and you’re supposed to turn them off when a driver approaches? And drive without either headlights or fog lights? That makes no sense. No, you misunderstand. The fog lights are not to be used unless it is foggy. If it is foggy then you have them on and leave them on, you don’t turn them off for on coming traffic (they can’t see you anyway, it’s foggy). The fog lights must be wired so that they can’t be on just by themselves, i.e., _at least_ the park lights must be on. My point to the OP was that, where I am at least, it is illegal to use them unless you need them on for low visibility. So the question of turning them off for oncoming traffic doesn’t arise in normal day to day driving. Lots of people just have their fog lights on all the time though, because they think it looks cool or something. Some also mistake them for running lights, which _are_ designed and allowed to be always on. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/13 "2015-06-30T07:13:19Z")
Edit: I said foggy, I mean low visibility. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/14 "2015-06-30T10:57:41Z")
I believe it’s illegal in many states to use them when it’s not foggy but not enforced. It is not required to turn them off as other cars approach if used properly (when it[s foggy). I usually have no problem with cars oncoming with them on. What some cars have however is a rear tail light high setting with the fog lamps (or designed to use in the fog), now that is annoyingly and blindingly bright, especially at night or in the fog. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/15 "2015-06-30T11:48:21Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > What some cars have however is a rear tail light high setting with the fog lamps (or designed to use in the fog), now that is annoyingly and blindingly bright, especially at night or in the fog. Are you in the US? Because I’ve never heard of such a thing. You don’t merely mean LED tail lights do you? ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/16 "2015-06-30T12:07:58Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > There was a thread about this a while back. In terms of cars, not trucks, with OEM ‘fog lights’ like the ones in the linked photo I firmly say: No. You don’t need to turn them off like high beams. I routinely see cars coming at me with them turned on and they’re nothing like high beams. For that matter you don’t really need to turn them _ **ON** _ in fog, because they don’t do shit for fog\*!\* (other than light up the pavement 20 feet in front of you). They’re strictly for looks… The purpose of fog lights is to light up the short distance in front of you. Have you ever actually driven in fog? Under foggy conditions, when there are large amounts of particulates in the air in front of you, your regular headlights are actually counter-productive, as all the light is simply reflected back at you via the fog/particulates, and your visibility/night vision is significantly reduced. The correct way to proceed under these conditions is to turn off your headlights and turn on foglights only, so that when you are puttering along at 15 mph, because you can’t see through the fog and that’s the fastest you can possibly go, the foglights can at least illuminate the 15 ft in front of you so you can see the edges of the road and not drive off a cliff, and people coming the other way can see you. There are no circumstances where your low beam headlights should be on at the same time as your foglights. It’s not really a big deal since leaving them on mostly doesn’t bother people except rarely when they reflect off puddles on the ground. It would be nice if more people actually knew what the fuck the doodads on their cars did though, if they can’t figure out the lights, what else don’t they know? :eek: A related question, I’ve been spending some time in the UAE recently and it seems to be a thing here for people to drive along on clear nights without headlights but with foglights on. I have never seen this anywhere else, and it would require some kind of conscious effort to turn on the foglights and off headlights, and many of these cars are nicer models that surely must have automatic headlights. What new sorcery is this? I have never seen this anywhere else and I’ve seen some pretty silly stuff. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/17 "2015-06-30T13:28:01Z")
> [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](#): > > The purpose of fog lights is to light up the short distance in front of you. Have you ever actually driven in fog? Under foggy conditions, when there are large amounts of particulates in the air in front of you, your regular headlights are actually counter-productive, as all the light is simply reflected back at you via the fog/particulates, and your visibility/night vision is significantly reduced. The correct way to proceed under these conditions is to turn off your headlights and turn on foglights only, so that when you are puttering along at 15 mph, because you can’t see through the fog and that’s the fastest you can possibly go, the foglights can at least illuminate the 15 ft in front of you so you can see the edges of the road and not drive off a cliff, and people coming the other way can see you. There are no circumstances where your low beam headlights should be on at the same time as your foglights. Nicely put. And to say it another way: Yes, I think it’s a bit rude and it’s terribly stupid as well. Those things don’t light up more than about 20 feet ahead of the car so, unless you’re putting-along at 15 mph, you’re just wasting gas/energy by having them illuminated. The stupidity is as annoying as the photons. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/18 "2015-06-30T13:30:53Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > No, you misunderstand. I did misunderstand. Thanks for the clarification. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/19 "2015-06-30T13:33:37Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Are you in the US? Because I’ve never heard of such a thing. You don’t merely mean LED tail lights do you? Yes - in US, it’s a euro import maker that is known for these, perhaps Volvo or Saab. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/20 "2015-06-30T13:38:44Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > What some cars have however is a rear tail light high setting with the fog lamps… > [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Are you in the US? Because I’ve never heard of such a thing. You don’t merely mean LED tail lights do you? No, there are some cars that have taillights that are normally somewhat dim (like all taillights) but can also be bright like brake lights. The bright setting comes on automatically with the fog lights to make the car more visible to those approaching from behind. My recollection is that the ones I’ve seen are on European vehicles. On preview, like **kanicbird** said. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831.md?page=2)