Should You Turn on Fog Lights on Rainy Days?
3 Answers
When the rainfall is heavy, you should turn on the headlights or front fog lights. Here are the relevant details: 1. Position lights: The use of lights during rainy driving is very particular, and you should decide which lights to turn on based on visibility. For example, when it just starts to rain and the sky is relatively dark but visibility is still good, you should use position lights. 2. Rear fog lights: Rear fog lights should only be turned on when the rain is very heavy. This is because the red tail lights themselves have excellent penetration, and ordinary heavy rain cannot block their light. Rear fog lights are very bright and are designed to penetrate thick fog. Using them in general rainy conditions can easily dazzle the drivers behind you. If the vision of the drivers behind is affected, safety cannot be guaranteed.
Whether to turn on the fog lights in rainy weather depends on the situation. Personally, I always turn them on when driving in heavy rain or thick fog, mainly to ensure that vehicles in front and behind can see me clearly and avoid rear-end collisions. However, there's really no need to turn them on during light rain or when the weather isn't that bad. Fog lights are extremely bright, and using them at night can easily dazzle drivers in the opposite lane, making things more dangerous. I remember once on the highway during a torrential downpour with visibility less than 50 meters, I turned on both front and rear fog lights, and the car behind could spot my position from far away. Also, many new cars now come with automatic headlight systems that turn the low beams on and off based on weather conditions, but fog lights still need to be manually controlled—don’t get them confused. Another important point is not to leave the rear fog light on continuously; turn it off once the rain stops to avoid disturbing other drivers. Safety always comes first—use them when necessary, but don’t cause unnecessary trouble when they’re not needed.
Using fog lights in rainy weather is a skill. When it's lightly raining, I usually don’t need to turn them on—the low beams and parking lights are enough. But if I encounter heavy rain or thick fog in mountainous areas where visibility drops below ten meters, both the front and rear fog lights must be activated. Why? Because fog lights have a scattered beam with strong penetration, making it easier for other drivers to spot your position in heavy rain. However, a reminder: many cars have separate switches for front and rear fog lights, so check the manual for their locations. And never use fog lights in good visibility, especially the rear ones—they’re blindingly bright and can be really annoying for trailing drivers. I’ve experienced it myself—stuck in traffic on a rainy day, the car ahead kept its fog lights on, and my eyes were strained from the glare. Lastly, I recommend checking the fog light bulbs periodically. These areas are prone to water accumulation and rust. Once during maintenance, I found the fog lights had poor contact—luckily, it was caught in time.
