What Lights to Use in Foggy Conditions?
3 Answers
When driving in heavy fog, you should turn on the fog lights, low beam headlights, and position lights. The following rules should be followed under low visibility conditions: 1. When visibility is less than 200 meters: Turn on the fog lights, low beam headlights, position lights, and front and rear position lights. The speed should not exceed 60 kilometers per hour, and maintain a distance of more than 100 meters from the vehicle in front in the same lane. 2. When visibility is less than 100 meters: Turn on the fog lights, low beam headlights, position lights, front and rear position lights, and hazard warning flashers. The speed should not exceed 40 kilometers per hour, and maintain a distance of more than 50 meters from the vehicle in front in the same lane. 3. When visibility is less than 50 meters: Turn on the fog lights, low beam headlights, position lights, front and rear position lights, and hazard warning flashers. The speed should not exceed 20 kilometers per hour.
I remember driving home in heavy fog once, visibility was extremely low with everything around me shrouded in white. I almost hit the roadside. At that moment, I quickly turned on both the front and rear fog lights, and immediately noticed the softer illumination—unlike high beams that create intense glare and reduce visibility. Now experience tells me that fog requires dedicated fog lights. Positioned low, these lights cast downward-scattering beams that penetrate the fog layer while making your vehicle more noticeable to others. I usually switch regular headlights to low-beam mode to avoid dazzling effects. For cars without fog lights, using low beams is acceptable, but never engage high beams—they endanger both you and oncoming traffic. In fog, reduce speed by at least 30% below your normal pace, and monitor rearview mirrors frequently to prevent rear-end collisions. These habits have saved me multiple times, giving real peace of mind.
When driving in fog, I always remind myself that the choice of lights is directly related to safety. The risk of accidents is high in foggy conditions, as strong light reflecting off the fog can further obscure visibility. Therefore, turning on the front fog lights and rear fog lights is standard practice. Front fog lights help illuminate the road ahead at close range, while the red rear fog lights alert other vehicles to maintain distance and prevent rear-end collisions. I also recommend using regular low beams to assist with illumination, but avoid high beams. Speed must be controlled, kept below 50-60 km/h, and the following distance should be increased to over 100 meters. If the vehicle has an automatic fog light function, avoid manual interference. These simple steps can significantly reduce risks. Before every trip, I check the status of the lights to ensure everything is in order. Developing this habit has made driving much more worry-free.
