Keep your hands off that foglight switch

You know that pair of small lights on the front bumper under the headlights? Those are called foglights. They are called foglights because they are designed to be used in foggy or poor visibility conditions, and if installed properly, are aimed in such a way that it illuminates the road surface directly in front of the car (headlights usually shine on the road some distance away from the car).

Image credit : chuxtrux.com

Therefore, it defies logic that anyone would want to use the foglights in perfectly clear weather conditions. It's almost like a "it comes with my car, therefore I must use it" mentality at work. What is worse are some cars that have poorly calibrated foglights, which includes most of Malaysian local brand cars. In fact in my previous Proton Saga FLX, the foglights were aimed so high that when I switch it on it illuminates overhead signboards instead of the road.

Then there are those scumbags who install High Intensity Discharge (HID) bulb kit in their foglights, making the glare much, much worse.

Image credit : motofire.com

A more recent trend are new cars with rear foglights. I think you know where I am going with this - the same scumbags who abuse their front foglights now also happily turn on their rear foglights just because they can. Rear foglamps are very bright by default because they are suppose to mark the presence of the vehicle to other road users in foggy road conditions. They are way brighter than the other tail lights and in some instances even brighter than the brake lights.

Don't believe me? see for yourself the kind of glare these assholes subject other road users to. If you don't know where the rear foglights are, see that overexposed spot on the rear bumper.

In Malaysia, the most common car to abuse the rear foglights are the 3rd generation Toyota Vios. This have become such a trend and so many have complained about these drivers, that Toyota Malaysia made an PSA video to advise their customers not to be a dick:

So when should you use the front/rear foglights? as mentioned above - during foggy conditions, which are rare in Malaysia except in highland areas or sometimes trunk roads. Another acceptable time to use them is during heavy downpour where visibility has deteriorated until you can hardly observe the traffic around you. THEN you should switch on your foglights (not your hazard lights aka double signal, please, unless your car is stationary.)

Please be considerate. Using your foglights in clear weather conditions impresses nobody and annoys other road users. For more reasons why, read this:

http://thehelpfulengineer.com/index.php/2011/12/turn-off-your-fog-lights-when-there-is-no-fog/

Just because your car is equipped with it doesn't mean you have to use it. But if you insist, remember your car came with airbags , why don't you try them too?