Prosecution for use of fog lights

[peter.vw]

Does any one know what the law is on the use of fog lights, I was out in a friend last night It was foggy so turned on the fog lights one mile down the road the police had coned one lane of the road off to our surprise we were waved in, we was told that we had our fog lights on and that it was an offence to use fog lights in a built up area.
The officer said that we would not get a £30 fine on this occasion and to turn them off so as not to dazzle other users. Is the law you can only use fogs if your the only person on the road in which case what do you do if its foggy on a motorway as you will have no rear fog.

What’s the point of having fog lights on the car if its legal to use them when its foggy?
On the Scirocco you have to turn on the fogs before you can turn on the rear intensive fog.
Can any one shed light on this foggy subject

[RW1]

Its in the highway code iirc. Quite limited use. Mines not upto date but here goes....... (2004 issue).

You must not use any light that would dazzle.
You must not use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling the other road users.

See RVLR regs 25 & 27 ........ you carry on.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTr ... /DG_069859" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Obviously the officer felt the conditions did not warrant their use. ie. he thought viz was not seriously reduced ie. it was above 100m (328feet) or......
the other reason is because "chavs" drive with fog lights on when not required and he will have pulled you over cos he expected more problems/offences.

C.

[Kev]

100m is the key part.

You're only supposed to use them when visibility is severely reduced rather than when it's just a little bit foggy.

[ZephyR]

"On the Scirocco you have to turn on the fogs before you can turn on the rear intensive fog."

Is that so ? I've not used my fog lights since having a quick play when I first got my Roc. Seems a bit of a short-coming if you can't have your rear fogs on independently of the front fogs. I mean - rear fogs are a legal requirement - front fogs are an optional extra.

[peter.vw]

Its in the highway code iirc. Quite limited use. Mines not upto date but here goes....... (2004 issue).

You must not use any light that would dazzle.
You must not use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling the other road users.

See RVLR regs 25 & 27 ........ you carry on.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTr ... /DG_069859" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Obviously the officer felt the conditions did not warrant their use. ie. he thought viz was not seriously reduced ie. it was above 100m (328feet) or......
the other reason is because "chavs" drive with fog lights on when not required and he will have pulled you over cos he expected more problems/offences.

C.

Hi thanks for that they did stop us near to a big night club in Kingston so i think they was suspecting to find somthing else to pull us for but thought better of it when they see we was both in our 60is.
Do think VW might have got the switching wrong rear on first then front on the switch.
Problem is you turn on the light when its foggy you drive into a patch thats clear and forget there still on.

[peter.vw]

"On the Scirocco you have to turn on the fogs before you can turn on the rear intensive fog."

Is that so ? I've not used my fog lights since having a quick play when I first got my Roc. Seems a bit of a short-coming if you can't have your rear fogs on independently of the front fogs. I mean - rear fogs are a legal requirement - front fogs are an optional extra.

yes i checked it out on mine the next day and thought in the wrong way round "front first click then back second"

[peter.vw]

100m is the key part.

You're only supposed to use them when visibility is severely reduced rather than when it's just a little bit foggy.

Agreed but when its pachy it means you keep turning them on and off

[RW1]

"front first click then back second"

Thats been standard on the Mk2 Scirocco and Corrado for as long as they were built. Earlier Polos, Golfs and so on all had the same switch as well.

C.

[peter.vw]

"front first click then back second"

Thats been standard on the Mk2 Scirocco and Corrado for as long as they were built. Earlier Polos, Golfs and so on all had the same switch as well.

C.

wonder if its a case of changing the wires over on the switch swoping front and rear feeds.
Any one out there can see why this would not work loading for front and back are not the same ( two bulbs front one rear)

[sir_rocco]

100m is the key part.

You're only supposed to use them when visibility is severely reduced rather than when it's just a little bit foggy.

Agreed but when its pachy it means you keep turning them on and off

Guys, think about this for a minute. How thick does the fog need to be to warrant the use of fog lights ? I would suggest that if its 100M the fog lights are not required, thats a long way for someone to not see you. Also, if everyone has their fogs on, when you need to brake it becomes that bit more difficult for cars behind to notice the brake lights coming on due to the glare from fogs. Just my opinion !!!!

[peter.vw]

100m is the key part.

You're only supposed to use them when visibility is severely reduced rather than when it's just a little bit foggy.

Agreed but when its pachy it means you keep turning them on and off

Guys, think about this for a minute. How thick does the fog need to be to warrant the use of fog lights ? I would suggest that if its 100M the fog lights are not required, thats a long way for someone to not see you. Also, if everyone has their fogs on, when you need to brake it becomes that bit more difficult for cars behind to notice the brake lights coming on due to the glare from fogs. Just my opinion !!!!

Think you have a valid point, as for front fogs if it gets to thick the more light you have you end up blinding your self like in heavy snow fall if you go to main beam the light reflects back at you.