It is important that you familiarize yourself with all of the symbols on your car’s dashboard, including the fog light. These lights can be very useful when you are driving in heavy fog and visibility is low. They can help you stay safe and see the road more clearly, which can help you avoid getting into a potentially serious accident. This indicator light usually appears as a wavy light with solid diagonal lines going through it, but it depends on the car.

When to Use Your Vehicle’s Fog Lights

If you are driving in very foggy conditions and visibility is low, you should turn on your fog lights immediately. This can help you see in front of you much better when visibility has dropped to under 100 meters. Failing to use your lights in such driving conditions can put your safety and that of other drivers on the road at risk.

Fog lights can also be helpful when you are driving in heavy rain or snow, though they tend to be most effective with fog. Any low-visibility driving conditions can usually be improved by switching these lights on.

Turning on Your Fog Lights

Your vehicle’s owner manual will tell you how to turn on your fog lights. Keep in mind that fog lights are different from high beams/brights. Not all vehicles have fog lights, especially older models. These lights are typically located just below your normal headlights. Their low position on your vehicle illuminates everything in front of you except the fog itself.

There is usually a simple switch that you can turn somewhere by your steering wheel that activates these lights. You should know how to turn them on if the need arises. It is usually located on the gearshift’s dial, along with the windshield wiper function.

Depending on your vehicle, you may have both front and rear fog lights. Many newer models have them in the back as well. This helps you to see clearly both ways, which can be very useful if you are backing up when it is foggy outside.

Can You Get a Ticket for Using Your Fog Lights?

You could get pulled over and receive a citation if you are using your fog lights in normal driving conditions. This poses a threat to other drivers who are coming towards you, as it can temporarily impede their ability to see properly. The takeaway is that you want to be prudent when it comes to when you use these lights.

Why is My Fog Light Symbol Constantly On?

The most common reason for your fog lights always being on is that you flipped the switch and didn’t put it back. Check the position of the switch or dial to confirm. Make sure that you turn these lights off once you arrive at your destination. Some cars have an automatic setting, which will activate your fog lights when they are needed.

Buying Fog Lights

There are tons of aftermarket fog lights that you can buy in stores and online. There are lots of different fog lights to choose from, so you’ll want to explore your options. LED lights can be a great investment, as they really help with increasing visibility in heavy fog. They also tend to last a long time, so you won’t need to replace them anytime soon. There are also halogen lights, which are incredibly bright but fairly expensive.

You’ll want to keep in mind that fog lights with glass lenses tend to last longer than most of the others. If you are trying to get your money’s worth, you should consider getting these lights. The color of the lens also makes a big difference. While most of these lights have a clear colored lens, yellow lenses offer better visibility in fog, rain and even snow.

Before you start shopping around, you need to know which specific lights to buy. This is something that you should be able to find out from your vehicle’s owner manual. You can also try looking it up online. If your vehicle came with stock fog lights, they are pretty easy to replace and usually don’t require the services of a mechanic.

It is also a good idea to look carefully into specific products so you can find the right one. Read customer reviews for various fog lights before making a final decision. This will enable you to get exactly what you need with no regrets later on.

There are certain brands that are more reputable than others, including Philips, JDM Astar, and Sylvania. The brand of the lights you buy can make a huge difference when it comes to their overall quality, so you should keep this in mind.

Installing Fog Lights on Your Vehicle

If your vehicle didn’t come with fog lights, you’ll need to be mindful of where you mount them. You don’t want to put the lights too low, as they could get damaged. This might be something that you’ll want to have a professional do, depending on just how handy you are. Most aftermarket fog lights come with the necessary housing. Unless your vehicle has a very unusual grill, you should be able to use it without any issues.

After you have installed your fog lights, you’ll need to make sure they are angled properly. This way you’ll know that they will be able to help you see clearly when you are driving in heavy fog.

Final Thoughts

It is crucial that you use your fog lights when necessary to make driving safer when it is very foggy out. These lights will increase your visibility significantly so you can see further in front of you. This in turn will provide you with additional time to react to other drivers on the road so you don’t get into an accident. If you need to buy new fog lights, you should take the time to weigh your options carefully. This will give you a much better idea as to what you should buy.