What lights should be turned on when driving a motor vehicle in rain, snow, or fog?
2 Answers
When driving in foggy weather, turn on the fog lights, hazard warning flashers, and low beam headlights; in foggy, rainy, or snowy conditions, also turn on the low beam headlights, clearance lights, and rear position lights. Here are some precautions for driving in foggy weather: 1. Avoid sudden braking or hard acceleration. Visibility is low in foggy conditions, so avoid hard acceleration and emergency braking. When braking, the tail lights will illuminate to alert following vehicles to maintain a safe distance. 2. Choose to pull over when appropriate. In heavy fog, pull over to the emergency stopping area on the highway as soon as possible, turn on the clearance lights, tail lights, fog lights, and hazard warning flashers to alert oncoming vehicles. The driver should exit from the right side of the vehicle and wait patiently until visibility improves before continuing to drive and moving to a safe area as soon as possible.
I've been driving for over a decade and have experienced plenty of rain, snow, and fog conditions. In these situations, I always turn on my fog lights and low beams. Fog lights are specifically designed for such weather—their light is distributed low and wide, helping to penetrate fog or snowflakes and allowing me to identify the road. As for low beams, they help me see ahead without blinding others, but I never use high beams—the reflected glare is downright dangerous and could leave me or others unable to see anything. Once, driving back to my hometown in heavy snow with my fog lights on, the driver behind me spotted me early and avoided a rear-end collision. In such weather, I also make a habit of maintaining a slow speed and avoiding rushing, since low visibility increases the risk of accidents. Regularly checking that my bulbs are intact ensures my lights work when needed—this is a crucial safety habit. If the fog is particularly thick, I turn on the rear fog light to make myself more visible. Remember, safety comes first—better preparation means less risk.
