Should You Turn on Front Fog Lights or Rear Fog Lights in Rainy Weather?
3 Answers
It is best to turn on both front and rear fog lights in rainy weather. Here are the detailed reasons and conditions for turning them on: 1. Reasons: In rainy weather, due to significant temperature differences, fog is likely to form. When the fog is heavy, it is necessary to turn on both the front and rear fog lights of the vehicle. When the fog lights are on, they can effectively illuminate the road and serve as a safety warning, significantly improving the driving safety of the vehicle. The front fog lights are yellow or white, while the rear ones are red. 2. Conditions for Turning Them On: Before turning on the vehicle's fog lights, the vehicle must be started, and the parking lights must be turned on. Only then can the front and rear fog lights be activated. Front and rear fog lights are not needed during normal driving conditions and should only be used during rainy or snowy seasons or when visibility is low.
Yesterday on the highway, I suddenly encountered heavy rain with visibility likely less than 50 meters. I immediately turned on both front and rear fog lights. The amber front fog lights cut through the rain to illuminate potholes on the road, while the bright red rear fog lights made me highly visible to following vehicles from afar. However, a reminder: don't use rear fog lights in light rain. Last time I forgot to turn them off, the driver behind flashed their lights in protest because it was too glaring. Remember to switch off rear fog lights when visibility improves beyond 100 meters - these are designed specifically for extreme weather emergencies. Also, some cars have the fog light switch hidden as the second position on a dial below the left side of the steering wheel, so familiarize yourself with its location beforehand to avoid fumbling for it during heavy rain.
Back when I was a novice driver, I once drove in heavy rain foolishly with only the hazard lights on, and was pulled over by a traffic officer who educated me. They explained that hazard lights are for emergency parking, while in rainy or foggy conditions, the combination of front and rear fog lights should be used. Now, here’s how I handle heavy rain: first, I turn on the parking lights and low beams; if the fastest wiper speed still doesn’t provide clear visibility, I add the front fog lights; only when the outlines of cars behind me in the rearview mirror become blurry do I activate the rear fog lights as a warning. It’s important to note that rear fog lights are three times brighter than brake lights, and using them in light rain can cause light pollution. Last rainy season, I witnessed several rear-end collisions caused by overly dazzling rear fog lights, so I make sure to turn them off immediately when the rain lightens.
