What Lights to Use When Driving in Rainy or Foggy Weather?
4 Answers
When driving in rainy or foggy weather, use fog lights, hazard warning flashers, and low beam headlights. Fog lights are divided into front fog lights and rear fog lights, which can provide strong warning signals when visibility is less than 30 meters. Situations where fog lights should be used include: 1. During heavy rain when the driver's visibility is blurred, making it difficult to assess the surroundings; 2. In foggy weather. The method to turn on fog lights is: 1. Locate the light control lever below the steering wheel; 2. Find the fog light symbol and rotate the control ring; 3. Align the front fog light symbol to the "on" position. The functions of fog lights are: 1. Front fog lights are used to improve illumination when the road ahead is unclear and to alert oncoming drivers; 2. Rear fog lights help vehicles behind to spot the car in low visibility conditions.
I've been driving for over a decade, and turning on lights during rainy or foggy conditions is particularly important. First, switch on the low beams so the car ahead can see you. If the fog is so thick that visibility drops below 10 meters, activate both front and rear fog lights. The red light from the rear fog lamp has strong penetration to prevent rear-end collisions. Always remember not to use high beams—rain and fog reflect the light, creating a blinding whiteout that's even more dangerous. Reduce your speed by at least 20% and be ready to brake at any moment. Last week on the highway during heavy fog, I relied on fog lights and reduced speed to get home safely. Don’t forget to increase the wiper speed and crack the window slightly to defog—safety comes first.
As a parent who often picks up and drops off children, I'm extra cautious when driving in the rain. I turn on the low beams as soon as I get in the car, and when the rain gets heavier, I activate the front and rear fog lights. My child in the back seat always asks why I don't use the high beams, and I have to explain that high beams actually make it harder to see in rainy or foggy conditions. The rear fog lights must be turned on—last time it rained, I saw a car without fog lights that almost got hit. Also, turning on the air conditioning in external circulation mode is very effective for defogging, and maintaining a speed below 40 km/h is safest. When the rain is heavy, I increase the following distance to twice the usual length. These details are all hard-earned lessons from past experiences.
Driving with lights on every day during the recent rainy season. Basic fog operation: turn on low beams + front/rear fog lights (rear fog button is on the left of the steering wheel). High beams reflecting off rain/fog are deadly. Don't forget the rear defroster button. Once forgot fog lights - couldn't see following car's position in mirrors at all, super dangerous. Reduce speed to ~30km/h and follow lead car's taillights for stability. Set wipers to fastest speed - clear visibility is critical.
