Why do cars sold in the US not have rear fog lights? I have owned a bunch of US Spec European cars and only the Volvos and Minis have it working.
My current car (made in Europe) has everything except for the actual switch needed to turn them on (which I have ordered from my friendly dealer).
Now, I am well aware that a birth certificate and a pulse are basically all you need to get your license here (as is evidenced by simply driving around and observing Darwin’s theory in action), but is it really because the manufacturers think that American drivers are too stupid to use them properly (the common belief in car forums that discuss such matters).
We’ve got reverse lights, why would you need fog lights?
I could see putting additional lighting an the back of my plow truck, but then in that truck half of my driving is in reverse. Usually in shitty conditions, and tight quarters.
White lights??? I would immediately think that someone was in the wrong lane coming at me. In fact I think there are regulations about letting white light come out of a broken taillight lense or such.
Yes. In the rest of the world, cars are equipped with rear fog lights - they look like brake lights. In foggy conditions, a car approaching you from the rear would be able to see you better than if you simply had your regular rear lights on.
My 1982 UK spec Ford had them. They are not a new fangled idea. But US cars don’t have them. Hence my question.
You don’t drive with your lights on at night and during poor visibility (at any time)? Last time I checked when I turn on my headlights, the lights come on in the back, too. Or are you thinking of additional lights?
These are additional lights on the rear, red in color, but much brighter than the standard rear marker lamps. See here for a photo comparison of a vehicle in fog with and without the lights on.
You are no doubt aware of fog light on the front of your vehicle. Many US cars and trucks have them. They are auxiliary lights for use in poor visibility.
Cars everywhere else (i.e. not in the US) have rear auxiliary lights, red in color that can be activated in poor conditions.
Here - a picture says a thousand words etc. Look about 6 or 7 pics down in the following link.
In the UK the law states that rear (and front) fog-lamps must only be used in poor visibility as this this BBC article says
*The law, as presented by The Highway Code, states that front and rear fog lights must not be used unless visibility is seriously reduced - which generally means when you cannot see further than 100 metres (328 feet) - and that they must be switched off once the visibility improves.
Using rear fog lights when visibility is greater than 100 metres can mask the brake lights and dazzle those drivers following, thus increasing the risk of a rear-end collision rather than reducing it.*
For the technical minded, here are the UK lighting regulations regarding these lamps. As you can see the law says that only one rear fog lamp needs to be fitted, but then it has to be either located on the centre or offside of the vehicle.
I’m not an automotive engineer but I’m sure it couldn’t cost much. After all (IMO) it is a great safety feature. Cars have 2,4,6 airbags these days. It could be an option.
As for my car, all lights (and pretty much everything else) are turned on and off via a data bus. Nothing needed except the switch to communicate with the car’s computer. The lamps are also used as brake lights under extreme braking to supplement the regular brake lights. It would probably cost more to remove all that stuff for the US market.
What real purpose would rear fog lamps serve if people still don’t take responsibility for themselves and slow down during poor visibility, let alone activate the rear fog lamps only when necessary?
It seems to me that rear fog lamp effectiveness would only last a short time before their utility goes the way of the center brake light effectiveness. Besides, how many folks would turn on their rear fog lamps at all, let alone remember to turn them off when not needed. Judging from the number of people where I live who just can’t seem to turn on their headlights at night, the benefits of using manual fog lamps would quickly be outweighed by the additional problems where people fail to use them appropriately.
The bitter part of that observation being that the self-responsible Dopers who slow down in the fog and turn on their rear fog lights will only have those lights crushed out by those who don’t take responsibility for themselves.
Could also be the case that there is a substantial portion of the US that doesn’t have much if any fog. Here in the Southwest the rear foglights would not be used for anything other than blasting tailgaters.
That is an issue. I hate to be a basher of things American since I moved here, chose to stay and raise my family here, but… I’m convinced that a significant percentage of drivers on US highways have no clue what they are doing and have no right being there.
Of course, I seldom drive on British Motorways anymore either. Maybe it’s the same there.
In MD, a law was passed requiring headlights to be on when windshield wipers are on (i.e. in the rain). 50% (my guess) ignore the requirement. Lord knows what would happen if they had to turn fog lights on and off
I once followed a Jaguar after dark from New Orleans to Dallas (we were convoying) and they had their foglights on the whole time. When we arrived in Dallas, I commented that their brake lights were stuck in the on position. That was when I first heard about rear foglights–they apparantly had forgotten they were on. They were so bright, I had to hang back about 1/4 mile to keep from getting spots in my eyes.
Having driven in a lot of heavy rain and heavy fog, I can see where they’d be an advantage. I usually find a vehicle moving at a safe speed and just follow their taillights, but sometimes that’s not possible without being right on their tail. With the brighter lights, you could play follow the leader without being too close.
