Driving Tip of the Moment: Fog Lights are for FOG!!
In the mid to late 90s, car manufacturers started placing "fog" lights (or "driving" lights) on just about every new car. Fog lights can be very useful if designed correctly. But they can also be very dangerous to everyone else if designed poorly. .
When I lived in
When there is fog, you cannot see normal distances, particularly on the highway, and this can be very disconcerting. The better your long-distance eyesight, the more dramatic the change is from normal driving. This can cause intense anxiety. That is why you must drive so much slower in foggy conditions. Many times I would drive the Autobahn in thick fog, conscious of the news stories of horrible fog accidents (nebel unfalle), worried that I would be part of the next 100-car pile-up. In this situation, fog lights can save your life. Unlike high-beams, which simply light up the fog, fog lights light up the road below the fog. As well, the fog light reflectors are designed to spread the beam wider for a shorter distance.
So, if you want to be thought of as a courteous driver, don't light up your car like a Christmas tree. Make sure all the normal lights (markers, directionals, parking lights and low/hi beams) are working. Please remember to use your headlights in the rain. Use the fog lights only when you havevery low visilibility, and don't forget to turn them off when the fog has lifted! All those that have to share the road with you will genuinely appreciate your kind consideration.