Should You Use Fog Lights or Hazard Lights in Heavy Rain?
2 Answers
In the event of extremely heavy rain with dark weather and severe fog, it is best to use fog lights. Here are some precautions for using fog lights: 1. Due to the unique principle of fog lights, they have a specific range of application. First, fog lights emit non-directional light, meaning they appear similar from all angles. When visibility is severely reduced by dense fog, the intensity of the light is just right. This helps improve recognition. However, when visibility returns to normal, the high brightness and scattered nature of fog lights make them a glaring source of light, and they should be turned off immediately. 2. The light source and brightness of fog lights are more suitable for low-visibility weather than hazard lights. Hazard lights are designed to indicate danger or temporary parking. Using hazard lights instead of fog lights not only fails to leverage the safety benefits of fog lights but also highlights the drawbacks of hazard lights.
I've been driving for over twenty years, and what I fear most during heavy rain is poor visibility. I usually prioritize turning on the fog lights first, as they have strong penetration, and the red or yellow light is particularly conspicuous in the rain, making it easier for following vehicles to judge the distance compared to hazard lights. Hazard lights are mainly for use when the vehicle is stopped due to a malfunction. Turning them on while driving can easily cause following vehicles to misjudge the situation, especially when changing lanes, as the hazard lights and turn signals can get mixed up, which is very dangerous. Once on the highway during a heavy rainstorm, a car in front of me turned on the hazard lights while changing lanes, and I almost rear-ended them. Now, I always turn on the fog lights first, combined with driving at a low speed. Only when visibility is really poor do I briefly turn on the hazard lights for emergencies, but remember not to rely on them. Pay more attention to the windshield wipers and maintaining a safe distance.
