Need to vent re fog lights

[Lumpy]

poor driving, bad manufacture.

Poor inattentiveness means people leave these on. My Opels and the Current BM resets the lights when the ignition is turned off like ALL responsible manufacturers should. They all have warning lights so it is just careless driving or driving without due care and attention. If they can't read the information within the car what hope do they have reading the information outside it.

Wnakers.

[fazersharp]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Cagers using fog lights, FFS they don't make your car look good, they dazzle me, especially when it's dark and wet, plus they just make you look like a C8NT!!!!  Double plus, it's ILLEGAL!  TURN THEM OFF!  :grumble

If I didn't have a Fazer I'd dazzle you back with my main beam!  :\

IMO car manufacturers should be forced to make one switch for fog lights, one that turns on the front and rear at the same time, this might make people less likely to turn on just their fronts, or, reverse the switch as it is on most cars at the moment, you turn on the rear ones before you are able to turn on the fronts.

It's really starting to p1ss me off on my daily commute!

Oh my god thank you I thought that it was just me that that thought this way I agree with you 100%
The highway code states they should only be used when visability is bellow (can not recall ) meters. And it is also a question that pops up in the driving theory test.
There needs to be some sort of a news flash broadcast just befor the only way is essex to remind these **** of the law.
And dont get me started on the EU ruling that all new cars have to have running lights -stupid- stupid. Befor this stupid (again ) rule when you were driving along in your car in the day if you saw a light you knew that it was a bike or a volvo and you could easily see it. Now my lights on in the day have been lost amist the sea of daylight running lights.
Is this why the EU are now pushing for us bikers to wear day glow inorder to compete with these running lights
Oh and by the way when you fit after market led strips on your corsa it dosent look good it looks sh1t especially when the are not even put on straight     

[crishner]

http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/electric/et205a.htm


fog lights are totaly different to driving lights in 1 main area  Driving lights are tied into your main beam and only activate with your main beam


running lights are diferent again as they are activated by the ignition


and fog lights are to be used in fog or when visibility is down to 100 meters and must be turned off when visibility improves
226You MUST use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres (328 feet). You may also use front or rear fog lights but you MUST switch them off when visibility improves (see Rule 236).


236You MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226) as they dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights. You MUSTswitch them off when visibility improves.

[Lumpy]

There needs to be some sort of a news flash broadcast just befor the only way is essex to remind these **** of the law.

I'm sure you never break any law then?  :rollin

Same goes for cars with dipped beam bulbs blown, some with dip and side on same side not working, more dangerous than the odd front fog light being on. The rear fogs are more of a pain in damp weather tbh.

Then mobile phone usage...... grrrrrrrrrrrr and so it goes on.

[Major Rant]

Re headlights and foglights... I think the problem is that it is easier to fit 'bright' lights than it used to be and
there is a "light war" escalating out there driven by marketing, fashion and technology.

I mean, if you're fitting aftermarket foglights then you might as well fit 'extra bright' ones or HIDs or whatever.
Similarly, if you sell new cars then you are more likely to sell one with "nice bright" fogs or headlights.

VOSA and Plod , the folks that manage the MOT and enforcement of it are starting to challenge this.
From April 1st cars with HIDs will fail an MOT if they are not self-levelling.
(Anyone know if this is true for bikes too?)

Also, there is some chatter on the car forums that people are being pulled in for having bright lights and issued with 'fix' notices.

Basically, VOSA say "In the Department's view it is not legal to sell or use after market HID lighting kits".

Full text here http://www.gtr.co.uk/forum/144981-vosa-p...dance.html

I did see this on the VOSA website, but I can't find it now.

[HarryHornby]

That makes good reading Major, let's hope the police keep it up and it's not a 6 month fad.  Some of them (lower front fog lights) do seem extremly bright, usually on older beemas.

I'd love to be a traffic cop (paperwork allowing) I'd nab them all, phones, fog lights, tracksuits, tail gating, middle lane hogging, undertaking, I'd be like Cartman when he was a traffic tricycle cop - RESPECT MY AUTHORITY!  :rollin

[fazersharp]

[quote author=fazersharp link=topic=1487.msg11540#msg11540 date=1328006816]There needs to be some sort of a news flash broadcast just befor the only way is essex to remind these **** of the law.

I'm sure you never break any law then?  :rollin

Same goes for cars with dipped beam bulbs blown, some with dip and side on same side not working, more dangerous than the odd front fog light being on. The rear fogs are more of a pain in damp weather tbh.

Then mobile phone usage...... grrrrrrrrrrrr and so it goes on.
[/quote]So you do have your fogs on then and watch the onlyway is essex too ------is that what you are telling us all

[Lumpy]

[quote author=Lumpy link=topic=1487.msg11550#msg11550 date=1328010488]
[quote author=fazersharp link=topic=1487.msg11540#msg11540 date=1328006816]There needs to be some sort of a news flash broadcast just befor the only way is essex to remind these **** of the law.

I'm sure you never break any law then?  :rollin

Same goes for cars with dipped beam bulbs blown, some with dip and side on same side not working, more dangerous than the odd front fog light being on. The rear fogs are more of a pain in damp weather tbh.

Then mobile phone usage...... grrrrrrrrrrrr and so it goes on.
[/quote]So you do have your fogs on then and watch the onlyway is essex too ------is that what you are telling us all
[/quote]God no, to both. Fogs only ever go on when visibility is less than 100 yards and I can honestly say I have never watched TOWIE. Never. I am a tosser in many other ways though  :lol

[stevierst]

Probably going to get a lot of stick for this, but ho-hum. :rolleyes

The cops are doing their bit to stop these 'numpties' from using fog/spot/bright lights, as it well and truly pisses me off getting blinded by them. Fog lights are a nightmare because they point at the side/center of the road normally about 6-10 feet in front of the car so you can see where it is in the fog.  (This is why there is no beam test for them on the MOT)

The cops ARE stopping these people for using fog lights, but you have to give them a bit of credit, as the normal 'beat bobby's' are on their way to probably a more serious job, and haven't got the time to stop motorists.

The traffic/motorway cops will happily give anyone a ticket for fog lights, as it's a quick 5 minute job.  You have to remember that a cop seeing front fog lights is normally heading towards the offending car, and has to turn around and 'drive at speed' in order to catch it. It's fraught with danger for the cop as if an accident occurs he is well in the sh1t and could lose his job!  :eek  All for front fog lights........

Most people that are stopped say "Ididn't know", or "I wondered what that dash light was!!" Idiots!!

As you may or may not have worked out by now, yes I'm a cop and damn proud of it :bobby ! And yes I do stop people for using fog lights. When stopped I ask them "Why do you not have your wipers on?" To which they normally say "It's not raining" A sarcastic "Why do you have your fogs on then" follows. They never have an answer for that one!

Please fel free to hurl any abuse my way, I'm well and truly used to it!  :lol

[Lumpy]

I do stop people for using fog lights. When stopped I ask them "Why do you not have your wipers on?" To which they normally say "It's not raining" A sarcastic "Why do you have your fogs on then" follows. They never have an answer for that one!

Please fel free to hurl any abuse my way, I'm well and truly used to it!  :lol

I like this stance, a lot.

To be honest, lane discipline and tailgating are more worthy of a tug than fog lights that are just annoying and show poor attention.

[Grahamm]

I ask them "Why do you not have your wipers on?" To which they normally say "It's not raining" A sarcastic "Why do you have your fogs on then" follows. They never have an answer for that one!

ROFL! Nice one.

(Although one night I was riding out of Portsmouth and some pillock ahead of me had his rear fogs on which, combined with a bit of light drizzle, was causing a lot of dazzle on my visor. So I filtered up beside him at traffic lights and pointed this out to him. He wound down the window because he hadn't heard me, at which point I noted the dark blue uniform and silver numbers on his shoulders...! Oops! )

[Lumpy]

[quote author=stevierst link=topic=1487.msg11642#msg11642 date=1328091156]
I ask them "Why do you not have your wipers on?" To which they normally say "It's not raining" A sarcastic "Why do you have your fogs on then" follows. They never have an answer for that one!

ROFL! Nice one.

(Although one night I was riding out of Portsmouth and some pillock ahead of me had his rear fogs on which, combined with a bit of light drizzle, was causing a lot of dazzle on my visor. So I filtered up beside him at traffic lights and pointed this out to him. He wound down the window because he hadn't heard me, at which point I noted the dark blue uniform and silver numbers on his shoulders...! Oops! )
[/quote]the pillock should know better. I was stopped once and pointed out he had a headlamp out. People in glass houses :-)

[steeeve66]

slightly off-message but on a related issue - does anyone have difficulty seeing clear lens car indicators nestled in amongst the rear light cluster?

can't be just me that, even when looking directly at them, struggles to notice…

..i may just be going blind of course.

[DryRob]

I've noticed I seem to get dazzled more nowadays but maybe I just didn't pay as much attention when I was first driving...
I don't know why most new cars have a driver controlled height setting for your headlights, I always thought there was a standard setting for all cars?

[HarryHornby]

@Stevierst - can't stick any abuse your way, I think what you say is spot on, but it's also I think why so many people are doing so many little rule breaks now; because they know they'll normally get away with it, because as you say a cop is hardly going to spin round and engage in a pursuit after them.

I like your question on the windscreen wipers.  :b

@Steeeve66, I find the ones where the rear light cluster is circular and the indicators are a circular light inside the rear/brake lights.  When the brake lights are on the red from the brakes seems to dull the orange of the indicators, making them less visible.

[richfzs]

I don't know why most new cars have a driver controlled height setting for your headlights, I always thought there was a standard setting for all cars?

Its to allow you to adjust them when you've got a heavy load in the back - which would point the lights at the sky otherwise.

[DryRob]

That makes quite alot of sense, cheers

[Lumpy]

slightly off-message but on a related issue - does anyone have difficulty seeing clear lens car indicators nestled in amongst the rear light cluster?

not only clear lens ones, the LED ones, especially the Volkwagen / AUDI group ones are almost impossible to see whn the cars lights are on and more especially braking. The Volks ones in the centre of the brake light and the super slim AUDI ones are the worst. Was thinking about this coming in this morning strangely enough as well as why does everyone weem to be out to kill me this week  :lol

[fazersharp]

Stand down folks I have sorted it. I have been on to the government about this and have been told that it is a new law to protect us all. Its that all TOSSERS should use all 4 front lights to warn others of their approach !