Fog light: Which light is the right one and what does the lamp look like?

Created: 09/13/2022, 19:00

By: Simon Mones

In dense fog it is important to drive with the right lights.

But what is it and what symbol do you recognize it by?

There are weather conditions when driving a car is extremely reluctant.

For example, in heavy rain, because then there is often a risk of aquaplaning.

Fog is also anything but popular with drivers because it often appears suddenly and quickly becomes a hazard due to poor visibility.

Therefore, many cars have fog lights, but when can they be used at all?

"You can always switch on fog lights in addition to the low beam if fog, snowfall or rain significantly impede visibility," explains the ADAC on its website.

However, if visibility improves again, the fog lights must be switched off again.

But why do the fog lights help so well?

Quite simply, they are installed in such a way that their light spreads flat over the road and illuminates it better.

In dense fog, the fog lamp can significantly improve visibility.

© Yay Images/Imago

Fog light: Which light is the right one and what does the lamp look like?

In addition to the fog lights, modern cars also have rear fog lights to warn following traffic.

There are also strict rules for their use:

• The rear fog light may only be switched on if visibility through the fog is less than 50 metres.

  When visibility is better, the following traffic is blinded by it.

• If the visibility is less than 50 meters, a speed limit of 50 km/h automatically comes into effect.

  This distance can be easily read from the delineators at the side of the road – they are set up at exactly this distance on country roads and motorways.

• Rear fog lights are also allowed in urban areas

  be used.

  Visibility can be just as bad there as outside of town.

• There is no obligation to switch on rear fog lights.

• If the rear fog light is used incorrectly, there is a risk of a fine of 20 euros.

  If this endangers other road users or if an accident occurs, the fine is 25 or 35 euros.

Fog light: driving without lights costs 90 euros

Both the fog lights and the rear fog lights have to be activated manually, the automatic light control “generally cannot detect fog or hazy weather.

Therefore, it does not necessarily switch on the low beam automatically.

For this reason, you should reach for the light switch yourself when visibility is poor during the day,” advises the ADAC.

That means you should also check whether the low beam is switched on.

Anyone who is out and about without lights when visibility is poor faces a fine of up to 90 euros plus one point in Flensburg.

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Two indicator lights in the cockpit tell you that the fog lights and rear fog lights are on.

A green lamp with three lines that go diagonally downwards and a vertical ringed line shows that the fog lights are in operation.

With rear fog vision, the indicator lamp is orange and the three lines are horizontal.