# 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:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/41 "2015-07-01T15:07:03Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > Uh, yes, I bought my 2010 and 2012 new. Both work(ed) the same way. Maybe they changed it by popular demand, because my (admittedly old) 1990 and 1991 GTs did not allow fog lights on without headlights, nor did my 1996 Explorer. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/42 "2015-07-01T15:14:08Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > Maybe they changed it by popular demand, because my (admittedly old) 1990 and 1991 GTs did not allow fog lights on without headlights, nor did my 1996 Explorer. forgot to mention that my 2011 Ranger allows the same thing. well, sort of, considering it was originally for Canada and has DRLs. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/43 "2015-07-01T15:39:11Z")
Not much fog where I live, but lots of switch backs. Including real tight ones in my driveway. The extra light really helps for that. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/44 "2015-07-01T19:26:52Z")
I’ve never owned a car where I could operate the fog lights completely independent of the main headlights. I’ve owned Hondas, Mazdas, Nissans, and Hyundais. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/45 "2015-07-01T22:08:57Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > You shouldn’t have fog lights on in the first place, unless you’re driving in fog. Point taken. I also use the high beams as intended, but I turn them off even when they would be helpful for me, out of courtesy. > [@lieu](#): > > gigi, you hardly sound like a driver that’s making anything difficult for others. Did you see my other thread, “Is it rude to weave across lanes at 20 mph?”? j/k, but I am already feeling bad that the car came with those bright white headlights instead of the gentle yellow ones I used to have, so I don’t want to make it even worse! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/46 "2015-07-01T22:33:32Z")
The [Highway Code (UK)](https://www.gov.uk/driving-adverse-weather-conditions-226-to-237/overview-226) says you MUST turn them off when visibility improves. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/47 "2015-07-01T23:13:24Z")
> **[Just Ask: What are regulations concerning use of fog lights on cars?](https://www.masslive.com/living/2014/05/just_ask_what_are_regulations_concerning_use_of_fog_lights_on_cars.html)** > > Fog lamps should be treated like high beams, and AAA spokeman advised. I know someone that got stopped for using his fog lights when it was not foggy out . But when the judge saw how bad his eyesight was the ticket was thrown out. I think it’s dangerous to leave your fog lights when another other is coming , it’s very blinding on a narrow road. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2015, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/48 "2015-07-01T23:19:02Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > **When properly aligned and used as designed, no.** > > When used obnoxiously like **Leo** and others describe, yes. If there’s one thing I hate when commuting in the morning while still dark it’s having one of these blinding monstrosities pull up behind me. It’s like looking through a telescope into the sun and then the bastards tailgate, suggesting to me it’s just a way to bully their way through traffic. Often times I’ll speed or slow, change lanes, anything to put distance between me and that annoying, unnecessary glare. In my climate I’ve never needed fog lights but these big, tough trucks do? Misused, it just takes a few to give a functional utility a bad rap. > > **gigi** , you hardly sound like a driver that’s making anything difficult for others. I agree with the bolded part, but c’mon, how many people have them properly aligned (or would have them aligned if they knew they _weren’t_ properly aligned) _and_ use them as designed? Hell, I’d settle for one out of two on that score. Then I wouldn’t complain about it so much. ---
**Author:** ![PoppaSan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poppasan/32/189_2.png) [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/49 "2015-07-03T23:49:41Z")
My 13 year old Avalanche, the fog lights turn off automatically when I flip on the high beams. I have to turn them on every time I start the vehicle. Headlights come on automatically. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/50 "2015-07-04T01:19:31Z")
> [@Leo\_Krupe](#): > > I agree with the bolded part, but c’mon, how many people have them properly aligned (or would have them aligned if they knew they _weren’t_ properly aligned) _and_ use them as designed? > > Hell, I’d settle for one out of two on that score. Then I wouldn’t complain about it so much. huh? chances are pretty good they come aligned properly from the factory, and since they take halogen capsules there should be no reason for them to go out of alignment barring a collision or replaced housing. ---
**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:** [July 4, 2015, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/51 "2015-07-04T03:36:21Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > huh? chances are pretty good they come aligned properly from the factory, and since they take halogen capsules there should be no reason for them to go out of alignment barring a collision or replaced housing. I’d bet though, with all the after-market doo-dads that are installed, including new bumpers, along with fender flares, light bars, rims, etc. that things just might get a bit misaligned. I’d also bet that a not insignificant percentage of the morons (and here I’m talking about those driving huge trucks with 6 inch spacers in the suspension – like coal rollers) don’t give a flying fuck if they’re blinding others or not. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/52 "2015-07-04T13:37:10Z")
> [@Leo\_Krupe](#): > > I’d bet though, with all the after-market doo-dads that are installed, including new bumpers, along with fender flares, light bars, rims, etc. that things just might get a bit misaligned. I’d also bet that a not insignificant percentage of the morons (and here I’m talking about those driving huge trucks with 6 inch spacers in the suspension – like coal rollers) don’t give a flying fuck if they’re blinding others or not. I think that number is insignificant. At least compared to all the bog standard vehicles that have them now. And maybe there is a bit of confirmation bias going on. Get blinded by a car that has them, and they are all bad. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/53 "2015-07-05T17:48:49Z")
> [@PoppaSan](#): > > My 13 year old Avalanche, the fog lights turn off automatically when I flip on the high beams. I have to turn them on every time I start the vehicle. Headlights come on automatically. Of course fog lights should, if on, switch off when high beams are put on; there is no driving situation that legitimately calls for the use of both. The question is, why were the fogs on in the first place? You “have to turn them on,” what for? ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831/54 "2015-07-05T18:50:04Z")
> [@Leo\_Krupe](#): > > I’d bet though, with all the after-market doo-dads that are installed, including new bumpers, along with fender flares, light bars, rims, etc. that things just might get a bit misaligned. I’d also bet that a not insignificant percentage of the morons (and here I’m talking about those driving huge trucks with 6 inch spacers in the suspension – like coal rollers) don’t give a flying fuck if they’re blinding others or not. those are trail or driving lights, not fog lights. meant for use off road where there are no street lights and little natural light. and no, bros with brodozers don’t care who they’re blinding. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-leave-your-fog-lights-on/723831.md?page=2)