Why Is It Dangerous To Leave Rear Fog Lights On?

Fog lights are used to support lighting on roads with bad climate conditions such as heavy rain, dense fog, or mountain passes. But why is it dangerous to leave rear fog lights on? Let’s find out now with Car From Japan!

What Are Fog Lights?

Fog lights are car lights with a slightly curved shape with the function of supporting good lighting on roads in bad weather conditions such as heavy rain, and dense fog. Usually, fog lights will be fitted at the bottom or sides of the outermost corner of the front or rear bumper or both the front and rear bumpers of cars.

In this position, when drivers turn on the lights under bad weather conditions, it will be easier for them to observe the road surface or follow the road line.

What Do Fog Lights Do?

In bad weather conditions such as heavy rain, and dense fog… it is difficult for the driver to observe the position, direction, and moving objects on the road, which is super dangerous and unsafe for drivers and passengers.

Fog lights can reduce a lot of concerns for drivers when traveling on the road. With yellow light, fog lights can support good lighting, and penetrate thick layers of fog, and heavy rain so that the driver can easily see right where he is driving.

However, fog lights should only be used when necessary and limited to lighting in normal conditions, because these lights are likely to cause glare, limit visibility, and be unsafe for vehicles in the opposite direction. Many drivers equip LED fog lights in their cars but do not know the serious harm of these lights when not used properly.

How To Use Fog Lights?

Fog lights have the symbol of a light bulb with 3 parallel light rays, accompanied by a vertical line. They are usually marked on the same switch to turn on the headlights, when the driver turns the arrow pointing to the fog light icon to turn on the lights, they will appear on the driver’s screen.

In addition, some other models will arrange an independent car fog light switch on the left, below the air conditioning vent, the driver can turn on the fog lights by turning the knob to the fog light position.

Depending on each car manufacturer, there will be a different design of the switch position to turn on the light system, car owners should refer to the user manual before driving to ensure safety and use the correct light system.

If you are driving in normal weather conditions at an average speed, the fog lights should not be turned on. Because, this does not make the vision clearer, but can also reduce the driver’s ability to see far away.

Why Is It Dangerous To Leave Rear Fog Lights On?

The purpose of fog lights is to make the presence of a vehicle noticeable in foggy situations. They serve a certain purpose and are designed to do so.

When the rear fog lights are put on in inappropriate circumstances, approaching cars may be misled as to whether your vehicle is moving or staying still, because the rear fog light is comparable to brake lights (bright). This might lead to mishaps.

Furthermore, leaving very bright rear fog lights on when they’re not needed may cause momentary blindness to cars approaching from behind.

When Would You Use Rear Fog Lights?

Dense fog is seen as a major obstacle to vehicular traffic. When cars encounter fog, they often have to turn on the fog light to emit a bright yellow light to open the way. The light just illuminates the road ahead, and at the same time indicates its position, making vehicles and pedestrians on the opposite side can see the car through the dense fog.

In detail, the light emitted by the fog lights is yellow because it has the longest wavelength and a diffusing effect, causing the light beam to distribute in the front with the widest area, making the driver see the target clearer.

Fog lights are equipment that is rarely turned on by car owners living in urban areas, where it is rarely covered by fog to the extent that visibility is limited. But on winter days, when moving in the early morning or evening, there may be light fog, you need to turn on this light to avoid collisions. Currently, there is no ban on turning on fog lights when traveling in the city.

When going uphill via the viaduct to cross intersections in the city, turning on the fog lights will be extremely helpful in helping the oncoming vehicle recognize the opposite vehicle from afar, minimizing collisions.

How To Choose Suitable Car Fog Lights For Cars?

You have just learned the reasons why is it dangerous to leave rear fog lights on. So before using it, you should also know how to choose the suitable ones for your car.

Yellow car fog lights

Yellow is the color that car manufacturers advise drivers to prioritize using. Because this is the type of light that gives the best lighting ability on roads with bad and difficult-to-observe conditions such as heavy rain, dense fog, and mountain passes.

In addition, yellow fog lights will limit glare for vehicles going in the opposite direction, limiting the risks of unintended accidents when traveling on bad roads.

This will be explained simply based on the source of daylight we often see with the naked eye. They include 7 colors of the rainbow such as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and purple. In particular, the purple spectrum band is the color with the shortest wavelength.

Besides, when people try to focus on the object in front of them in lack of light, or foggy weather, the retina of the eye will tend to be blurred.

Except for yellow, other colors can increase the glare of the light, and at the same time, the distance vision is significantly limited. Therefore, fog lights often exclude these colors and only use yellow lights mainly.

Anti-glare fog lights

In foggy weather conditions, we will notice the reflection of light to mist particles suspended in the air. They will cause glare and limit the driver’s vision when observing ahead and the car rear through the rear lights.

The road surface often has a higher temperature than the air below, so the density of dew condensation near the road surface is also lower than above. Therefore, if the headlights can project far above, the fog lights will assist in resolving the light located below, helping the driver to observe the road surface or road markings more easily.

To shine through the holes of the car fog lights, the lights must have a strong light beam when shining down on the road and not be scattered upwards. Thus, the new light is not reflected to dazzle the driver’s eyes.

Install a good type of car fog light that is capable of sweeping wide on both sides of the road, helping the car to move safely, not falling into the ditch, not falling into the abyss, or not being hit in all different road conditions.

Where To Buy Rear Car Fog Lights?

Currently, car owners can easily and diversely buy this product to equip their cars from local auto shops. However, before getting anything home, you must read through the owner’s manual to find the right fog light for your car model.

For example, sedans, and hatchbacks’ fog lights with 4 seats, and 5 seats will be different from SUVs or MPVs’ with 7 seats. Or vehicles that move on terrain such as pickups will not use the same fog lights as convertibles.

If you want your car to always perform at its best, choose genuine and reliable fog lights on the market. You should also buy fog lights at reputable and quality addresses with the best warranty.

Moreover, to ensure safety when participating in traffic, you need to equip fog lights with safe lighting that ensures quality and is suitable for your vehicle. At the same time, comply with the law instead of installing car fog light systems that are not well-fit or are too cheap to risk your traveling.

Conclusion

After understanding why is it dangerous to leave rear fog lights on, we hope you have grasped some insightful info on this topic. Hope you can take advantage of these lights and use them effectively to ensure your safety on the road at all times.

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