The Differences Between Fog Lights And Driving Lights

The primary differences between fog lights and driving lights is that the driving lights on a vehicle are used for providing elucidation forward from the vehicle. They also intend to supplement a high-beam of the standard headlight-system. The fog lights on the other hand serve the purpose of reflecting dust particles, snow or fog and have been designed for use in conditions that are dangerously thick.

Driving Lights

The driving lights is a type of light that features a straight and narrow beam which is installed in the front of a vehicles like a SUV, pickup truck or a car. The always come in white as these are the most powerful when in the dark in comparison to red or yellow colored lights. The driving lights can be used in combination with the high-beam headlights. Most drivers use the high-beam headlights on unlit or deserted-country roads. This type of light sends a powerful beam far ahead, with the purpose of illuminating stretches of road so that the driver can see more clearly where they are going.

The driving lights will produce a beam that is more directed than the fog lights along with an increased intensity. The lamps serve the purpose of filling in gaps between the car and the illuminated area of the bottom of the high-beams. This allows for a clearer vision of road obstacles or potholes.

Fog Lights

The fog lights serve the purpose of use in conditions such as thick fog. This is the type of light which is also useful in conditions where visibility has been limited severely. The fog lights are very different to the standard headlights. They feature a beam shape that is unique. The beam is wide and flat and positioned lower on the vehicle, typically close to the front-bumper. The shape of a fog-light beam typically appears like a narrow-bar. They serve the purpose of cutting through fog and lighting up the road surface so that a driver can see enough so that they stay on a road and inside their lane.

The low and wide beam on the fog lights works on lighting the surface of the road under the layer of fog. Fog will often float above the surface, so lights from underneath this layer will reduce the glare caused from light that hits the fog.

The Key Differences Between Driving Lights And Fog Lights

– Driving lights provide forward elucidation of the car and serve the purpose of supplementing a high-beam on the standard headlight systems. The fog lights are intended to reflect dust particles, snow or fog, and are designed to only be used in thick and dangerous conditions.

– The driving light produces a white light and the fog lights produce a combination of a yellow and white light.

– The driving light is designed to display a clear vision of the road’s surface, and to avoid any obstacles in the road while driving at night. The fog lights are designed to use in specific conditions such as snow, rain, fog or dust.

– The driving lights are always installed by default in every vehicle by a manufacturer, while in certain areas the fog lights are installed associated with weather conditions to a specific region. In most of the areas, the installation of fog lights is optional.

– Driving lights are usually mounted above the fog lights and are always white. The fog lights are installed closer to the bottom of the vehicle and the ground, and come in white and yellow dependent on weather conditions they are used in.

Driving Lights- Conditions For Use

The driving lights are designed for use on an unlit street or road where passing other cars is sparse and the road is in a poor condition. Driving lights which are not head lights must be turned off when approaching a driver on the other side of the road. These lights should also be switched off when in fog.

LED fog light bulbs and driving lights are often a source for complaint, as using them can blind other drivers that come from an opposite direction. The fog lights that are yellow are typically less problematic as they generally feature a lower color or wattage or both.

When To Use Your Fog Lights

The fog lights are very different to the rear tail-lights and main headlight-beam on a car and are usually set lower in the rear or front aprons or bumpers and are angled in a way that they will cut beneath dense fog.

Most cars will feature fog lights in the rear and the front that are independently operated from the headlights. They are only to be used in inclement weather, fog or in any other instances of visibility that is extremely reduced.

How To Know If Your Fog Lights Are Turned On

The headlight switch will show a symbol that shows a headlight beam that is intersected with a S-shaped squiggle. In most vehicles using fog lights will also be indicated with illuminating corresponding symbols on your dashboard. In most cases, green will represent the forward-facing fog light, while orange represents the rearward-facing lights.

When To Use Your Fog Lights

As their name suggests the fog lights are actually designed to only be used in conditions such as thick mist, smoke, snow or fog. Just because the sun has set, does not give drivers a reason that is valid to turn these lights on.

However, it is allowed by the law and also highly recommended to turn your fog lights on regardless of whether it is night or day, when your visibility has become severely impacted by different climatic and adverse conditions.

Some of the more common conditions include low clouds, heavy snowfall, a dust storm, or even smoke. If you are not too sure about when to use these lights, it is a better idea to keep them off and rather rely on the low-beam headlights which you can use legally at any time of the night or day without bothering other drivers.