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SALT LAKE CITY — Even though fog lights are meant to help drivers see in poor conditions, the debate over whether or not they are really useful remains as shrouded as their namesake.
Fog lights are typically placed as low as possible on the front end of the car so that the beam of light can hit the surface of the road with as little interference as possible, according to Advance Auto Parts.
The lights are installed on the front of a car in addition to the vehicle’s regular headlights. They can help drivers see through fog and other driving obstacles, such as mist, snow or blowing sand, according to Advance Auto Parts.
But there is some controversy over whether or not they do make a difference, and in recent years, they’re disappearing from some newer car models.
Car Talk duo Tom and Ray Magliozzi say most additional lights seen on the fronts of cars are just decorative. Many others are installed or aimed incorrectly, which can lead to other drivers getting a blinding light pointed right at them, according to the Magliozzis.
“By projecting light in that fog-free pocket, you can illuminate the road a greater distance from your car and therefore see farther ahead,” Ray Magliozzi said in a 2002 blog post. “Some people swear by fog lights. Others claim that they don't really make much difference.”
Fog lights are also not to be confused with driving lights. That’s a term that usually refers to additional circular lights that are sometimes mounted on the front of off-road vehicles, according to Advance Auto Parts. Those types of lights are meant for clear weather.
Regular headlights, and especially high-beam headlights, are not very effective in the fog. Light from those will bounce off the moisture in the air, ending up reflecting back into the driver’s face, according to The New York Times.
Many newer models of cars don’t include fog lamps, according to the Times. Higher-tech headlights on some cars essentially do what fog lights do, making them obsolete.
You’re allowed to have up to four lights on the front of your car that project a light up to 300 candlepower, according to Utah law. That’s equivalent to about 3,800 lumens. For lights that are brighter than that, they must be fixed so that the high-intensity beam won’t hit a car coming toward you if it’s more than 75 feet away, the law states.
On the safety side of things, if you’re dimming your lights, you’re generally just fine, as long as you’re a courteous driver and you’re working on being cooperative with your neighbors.
–Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Harley Watkins
Passenger cars can’t have flashing lights, except for turn signals and hazard lights, according to the law.
If your car doesn’t have fog lights and you want to install them, Advance Auto Parts recommends making sure you install them in a place on your car where they won’t get damaged if you go over a pothole or hit a low driveway entrance.
Universal fog lights can be installed on almost any car, as long as you can find a place to mount them, the auto parts store said.
If you want your fog lights to have a factory-installed look, you’ll probably have to remove the bumper and install a grille that can be equipped with fog lights, according to Advance Auto Parts.
Though the Car Talk guys say fog lights can blind other drivers if not installed correctly, Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Harley Watkins says light pollution isn’t much of a safety concern for Utah drivers.
“Generally speaking, we just don’t see it as an issue right now,” he said.
If your headlights are abnormal or discolored, that can sometimes result in the loss or revocation of your vehicle registration, Watkins said. Those issues should be corrected immediately, he said.
UHP asks people to dim their lights while on the road, and to remember to be courteous to other drivers, Watkins said.
“On the safety side of things, if you’re dimming your lights, you’re generally just fine, as long as you’re a courteous driver and you’re working on being cooperative with your neighbors,” he said.
