Our drivers often use their fog lights how they want, when they want. Now this is noticed less often, but about fifteen years ago, powerful "foglights", moreover, from four or more pieces, could be seen even on the roof of the cabin. Although the rules clearly and clearly state that the PTFs on the vehicle should be used by the driver only "in dark time days" or under the conditions " insufficient visibility roads." Moreover, the use fog lights must occur simultaneously with the included near or high beam car. It happens that "foglights" are used instead of low beam headlights. These exceptional cases are specified in certain paragraphs of the Rules. traffic. In other words, fog lights are used in special cases. That is, when there is fog, smoke or dust on the road, and even when it snows, rains, hail.
Of course, fog lights exist for a reason. In difficult weather conditions and poor visibility is an indispensable device. After all, such headlights have an internal parabolic reflector and a diffuser of a special design that expands the beam of light and gives out end result horizontal glow. This glow represents a wide beam of light directed down to the road, and, as it were, cut off from above. With the available costly power, such a headlight can provide maximum illumination without blinding oncoming drivers. The color of the beam can be white or yellow.
The rules for using fog lights read as follows:
If the visibility of the road is less than 100 meters when the headlights are on, turn on and high beam, and "fog";
If the fog is not very thick, and visibility is more than 100 meters, turn on the fog lights and low beam.
IN daylight hours days and under normal visibility, as already mentioned, fog lights can be used instead of low beam headlights, well, and when maneuvering on mountainous and, in general, winding roads, there is no way without them.
The generally accepted installation location for fog lights is below the level of conventional headlights. After all, the fog near the ground has a lower density than at the level of human eyes, and the road, therefore, will be easier to illuminate.
The rules allow the installation of only two headlights in front. Moreover, not according to the principle “to look beautiful”, but specifically: no further than 40 cm from the plane of the wing and no less than 25 cm from the plane of the road. Behind the car, at least one fog lamp is provided, which has a red color, and the lamp must be installed on the side closest to the driver. If there are two lamps, then they must be installed on the same line symmetrically to the center of the car and separated from the brake lights of the car by at least 10 cm. fog lights should not be used in conjunction with brake lights, which can be observed quite often, and they are forbidden to be turned on unnecessarily, for example, on a clear night.
Yes, in order to use fog lights correctly and effectively, they must be optimally adjusted, certified and indelibly marked with international approval on the lens or protective glass.
To operate the vehicle in conditions of poor visibility, it is necessary to use special devices- Fog lights or lights. About what a fog lamp is, what types it is, how it is arranged and works, and how to choose the right headlight for a car - read in this article.
What is a fog lamp?
(PTF) - special automobile lighting fixture designed to improve the illumination of the road in conditions of insufficient visibility. This headlight used to improve the visibility of the road and vehicle in conditions of fog, heavy rain, snowfall, dust storm, etc.
PTF improves traffic safety on all types of roads in the most difficult climatic conditions, so car owners often install it on their own initiative. But before choosing and installing fog lamp, it is necessary to understand existing types these devices, their designs and features of operation.
Types and design of fog lights
Fog lights can be divided into groups according to their purpose and the spectral composition of the emitted light.
By appointment, foglights are:
- Front - to illuminate the road in front of the car, installed in front of the vehicle;
- Rear - to improve the visibility of the car, they are installed at the rear of the vehicle.
Lighting devices installed in the front of the car are commonly called fog lights, as they are designed to improve the illumination characteristics of the roadway and improve visibility for the driver of this vehicle. These devices perform the same functions as the head light, but in conditions of insufficient visibility.
The device installed at the rear of the car is called fog lamp, since its main purpose is to improve the visibility of the vehicle itself to drivers of cars moving behind. These devices perform the same functions as the rear parking lights but in low visibility conditions.
According to the spectral composition of light, fog lights and lanterns are:
- White - equipped with a conventional transparent diffuser;
- Yellow - equipped with a diffuser yellow color;
- Red - only rear lights, equipped with a red diffuser.
We especially note that the color of the PTF does not affect the quality of road lighting during fog, however, it affects the perception road conditions driver. The use of yellow headlights (more precisely, selective yellow, the blue part of the spectrum is significantly weakened in it) is due to the physiological characteristics of our visual apparatus. The human eye is most sensitive to the yellow-green part of the spectrum, so yellow-colored objects and objects illuminated yellow light, we perceive faster, better and more clearly than others. Therefore, in the light of the yellow fog lamp, objects will appear more contrasting, which in some cases increases safety.
However, the principle of operation of the PTF lies not in the color of its diffuser, but in the direction and shape of the light beam, and the features of the installation. Fog lights have two key features:
Formation of a light beam
- Formation of a light beam directed directly above the road surface - the beam has a clear upper boundary and is directed forward and downward;
- Installing low above the road surface, which achieves illumination of the canvas under a layer of fog.
Thus, the fog lamp does not shine into the fog itself, but directly onto the roadway. The formation of a directional light beam prevents unnecessary scattering of light in the fog (on snowflakes, drops or dust particles), which improves the visibility of the road and traffic conditions.
Structurally, PTF and lanterns are similar to dipped beam headlights. They are based on a housing, inside of which there is a reflector (reflector) with a lamp (or LED emitter), and closed with a transparent diffuser. To ensure directed luminous flux, which has a clear upper boundary, a reflector of a certain shape is used, and the lamp is not installed at the very focus of the reflector, but with some offset. With this design, the light from the lamp is reflected by the upper part of the reflector forward and down, so the light beam spreads over the road.
In this case, fog lights and lanterns can be of two types:
- Hull - are made in their own body, can be installed on various vehicles, including those that were not equipped with this type of lights;
- Frameless (embedded) - have the form and configuration for installation in regular places provided in the design of the vehicle.
Regardless of type, all fog lamps and lamps are manufactured and installed on vehicles in accordance with applicable government standards.
GOSTs and issues of the use of fog lights
In our country, there are a number of standards governing the production, installation and operation of fog lights and lamps, the main ones are two documents - GOST 8769-75 and GOST R 41.48-2004 (ECE Rules No. 48).
According to these standards, fog lights are installed in the following cases:
- On cars and trucks- optional (at the request of the owner of the vehicle);
- On tourist and mountain buses - a must;
- On trailers, the use of fog lights is prohibited.
The number of PTFs is two, they are located in the front of the car, at a height of at least 250 and not more than 800 mm from the roadway, and not more than 400 mm from the extreme overall points of the car. Moreover, the fog lights must be located below the dipped beam headlights. Color - white or yellow, but the same for both headlights.
The inclusion of fog lamps must be independent of the inclusion of dipped and main beam headlights, they can perform the function of a head light in conditions of insufficient visibility.
The rear fog lamp is installed in the following cases:
- On vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1991 - their absence is allowed, if this is not provided for by the project;
- On vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1991, a rear fog lamp is required;
- On wheeled tractors- Installation is optional.
The number of lights - one or two, they are located on the rear of the vehicle at a height of at least 250 and no more than one meter above the level pavement, and not less than 100 mm from the stop signal. If there is only one lamp, then it must be placed on the left side. For cars off-road installation of fog lamps at a height of up to 1200 mm is allowed. Diffuser color is red. The lamp must be switched on together with the front fog lamps, and their parallel switching with brake lights is strictly prohibited.
According to current rules traffic (clause 19.4 of the traffic rules of the Russian Federation), PTF can only be turned on in conditions of insufficient visibility and at night, together with the main head light, in daytime they can act as daytime running lights. And the rear fog lights, in accordance with paragraph 19.7, can only be turned on when visibility is insufficient (fog, snow, dust storm), and an administrative penalty follows for connecting this device to brake lights.
How to choose a fog lamp?
At purchase of PTF and lamps, it is necessary to take into account the make and model of the car, its design features, as well as the voltage of the on-board network.
If your vehicle is equipped with fog lamps or rear lights, then you need to buy those devices that are recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. If you are installing headlights for the first time, then you should choose those devices that are suitable in size and supply voltage. Additionally, you will have to take care of buying wires, relays, fuses, etc.
When choosing foglights, you need to pay attention to their marking - given type headlight is marked with the letter B, so it is easy to distinguish it from others. You should also give preference to those lighting devices that comply with the current GOST (which is again indicated by the marking), otherwise the headlights will not only be useless, but also dangerous.
When installing and adjusting the fog lights, the above standards must be taken into account, otherwise the vehicle may not pass the inspection.
Adjusting the fog lights is quite simple. It is necessary to put the car at a distance of 7.6-8 meters from the vertical surface (screen), and ensure that the upper boundary of the light beam from the headlights is 10 cm below the headlight axis. Only in this case will normal illumination of the roadway be provided in conditions of insufficient visibility.
At right choice and installation of fog lamps and lanterns you will be prepared for any weather conditions.
Good afternoon, dear readers.
I think that you have already heard many times that from November 20, 2010 come into force and that from that moment it will be necessary to use Daytime Running Lights.
However, in this article I will not consider the changes in the rules for the use of lighting devices themselves. It will be about how you can use light fixtures before November 20, how - after this date.
Those. we'll talk about the best way to go from driving with low beams off to driving with them on. Let me remind you that less than three months are left before these changes to the rules come into force, so it's time to think about the issue of their study and implementation.
I immediately warn you that in this article we will consider the use of lighting devices only in daylight hours.
Use of lighting fixtures until November 20, 2010
Currently, when driving during daylight hours, some categories of vehicles must turn on the dipped headlights. This is evidenced by the paragraph:
19.5. When driving during daylight hours, in order to indicate a moving vehicle, the dipped headlights must be switched on:
- on motorcycles and mopeds;
- when moving in an organized transport convoy;
- on route vehicles moving along a specially allocated lane towards the main traffic flow;
- at organized transportation groups of children;
- when transporting dangerous, bulky and heavy cargo;
- when towing motor vehicles (on a towing vehicle);
- when driving outside built-up areas.
I note that the listed vehicles must use dipped headlights. However, this does not mean that other vehicles cannot do the same.
The use of fog lights is described in:
19.4.
- in conditions of insufficient visibility, both separately and with dipped or main beam headlights;
- instead of dipped headlights under the conditions provided for in clause 19.5 of the Rules.
Notice the fog lights can be used. Those. may or may not be used. Accordingly, even if your car is equipped with fog lights, you can never turn them on. Conversely, you can always drive with the fog lights on.
As for daytime running lights, they are not mentioned at all in the current version of the traffic rules. Well, since this type of lighting device turns on simultaneously with the start of the car engine, you don’t need to remember about it at all.
Let's summarize. Currently during daylight hours lighting fixtures must be switched on only on the vehicles listed in paragraph 19.5. The rest of the vehicles can also turn them on as needed.
Use of lighting fixtures after November 20, 2010
After November 20, 2010, the text of paragraph 19.5 of the rules of the road will be significantly reduced, however, the group of vehicles that it will cover will increase significantly:
19.5. During daylight hours, all moving vehicles must turn on dipped beam headlights or daytime running lights to identify them.
Now low beam headlights should be on on all vehicles and always. He also had an alternative - the use of daytime running lights, which are always on anyway.
With regard to fog lamps, paragraph 19.4 has undergone minor changes:
19.4. Fog lights can be used:
- in conditions of insufficient visibility with low or high beam headlights;
- at night on unlit sections of roads together with dipped or main beam headlights;
- instead of dipped headlights in accordance with clause 19.5 of the Rules.
Therefore, fog lights are also an alternative to low beams.
Let's summarize. After November 20, 2010, each vehicle must have at least one of the following lighting devices switched on: dipped beam, daytime running lights, fog lights.
Transition to new rules of the road
In this part of the article, we will consider how it is better to switch to the new rules of the road for drivers of various cars.
Owners are the luckiest cars with daytime running lights . They don't need to think about anything at all. They can ride before and after November 20 according to the same rules.
Although in fact the situation of such cars will even improve, because. they will no longer be required to turn on the dipped beam outside the city, when towing, etc.
That is, on such a car it will be possible to simply get behind the wheel and go without thinking about the use of lighting devices.
The same drivers whose cars not equipped with daytime running lights, it is recommended to switch to new ones as follows.
Approximately 10-15 days before November 20, 2010 i.e. November 5-10, you need to start using dipped headlights when driving during the day. Fog lights can also be used. The choice depends on your preferences.
If there are those who wish, they can start using dipped headlights or PTF right now, the existing rules do not prohibit this.
We turn on the main beam at night, with insufficient visibility and in tunnels. At the same time, the Rules allow the use of dipped beam in these cases.
We switch the far one to the near one in the following cases:
At an oncoming siding (150 meters before an oncoming car);
At an oncoming journey at a greater distance, if the driver of an oncoming car “blinked” your headlights;
In all cases where your distant one can blind oncoming drivers;
In built-up areas, if the road is lit.
You can use the high beam and when overtaking. Paragraph 19.11 of the SDA allows the driver to “blink” the distant ones to warn of overtaking.
dipped beam
controversial points
Let's look at typical cases when a traffic police inspector accuses a driver of violating the rules for using lighting devices.
The Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation provides for liability in the form of a warning or a fine of 500 rubles for such a violation (Article 12.20).
1. You see the traffic police crew in an ambush and warn other drivers by “blinking” the high beam. Such actions are not prohibited, since there is no direct prohibition on them in the traffic rules.
2. At night, at the entrance to the settlement on the illuminated road, you did not switch to the near one. For this, you will be reasonably held accountable, since the need to switch to the near one is established by clause 19.2 of the SDA. If the road is not lit, you can continue driving on the high beam.
3. During daylight hours, to indicate a vehicle on the road, you drive with front foglights and also drive through a tunnel. At the exit, an inspector stops you. The punishment will be just. After all, according to paragraph 19.4, fog lights can be used instead of the passing beam, while paragraph 19.1 speaks of the need to turn on the far or near when passing through the tunnel.
By the way, the situation is the same when driving with DRL. Entering the tunnel, you need to turn on the near or far. You can't drive through the tunnel with DRL.
4. If you do not switch from far to near at night when oncoming traffic, the punishment will be fair. Even if the passers-by do not ask you about it, clause 19.1 of the SDA speaks of the need to move to the nearest one at least 150 meters from the oncoming car.
5. Happy in locality you are driving with high beam headlights. In this case, there is no composition of the violation, since there is only one direct ban on the use of high beams in the settlement - it is dark and the road is illuminated.
6. Driving around the city at night with DRLs will result in a fine. In this case, the traffic rules clearly require you to turn on either the near one (if the road is lit), or the far one, if there is no lighting in the village.
7. If one headlight does not work on a car (it doesn’t matter if it’s low beam or high beam), you will be held liable under another article - part 1 of article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (the punishment is the same - a warning or a fine of 500 rubles).
P.S. This, of course, is not all situations that occur on the road. If you have your own options, write in the comments, we will discuss.
Answer. The regulations prescribe when driving in conditions of insufficient visibility to use fog lamps only in conjunction with dipped or main beam headlights.
You can use fog lights in combination with low beam or high beam headlights:
Answer. You can use fog lights both in conditions of insufficient visibility (snowfall, rain, fog, twilight, when the visibility of the road is less than 300 m), and at night on unlit sections of roads together with low or high beam headlights.
When driving at night on unlit sections of roads, you can use fog lights:
Answer. The rules prohibit the use of fog lights on their own at night on unlit sections of roads. You can only use them in combination with dipped or main beam headlights.
What external lights should be on the vehicle?
Answer. Any of the listed devices have sufficient luminous flux to indicate the vehicle in the daytime and can be used by the driver when driving during daylight hours.
Fog lights and rear fog lights can be turned on at the same time:
Answer. Together, fog lights and rear fog lights can be turned on not only in fog, but also in other conditions of poor visibility (rain, snow), when the visibility of the road is less than 300 m. limited visibility fog lamps are not used as they will dazzle drivers following you.
What external lights should be on during daylight hours on motorcycles?
Answer. On motorcycles and mopeds, when driving during daylight hours, the dipped beam or fog lamp must be turned on. Thus, it is possible to distinguish small-sized vehicles in the flow of cars and trucks.
Can you use fog lights instead of low beam headlights during daylight hours?
Answer. In the daytime, the driver can use fog lights instead of low beam headlights to indicate the vehicle, except when driving in tunnels and in conditions of insufficient visibility.
Turning on which external lights will give you the best visibility of the road when driving at night during a heavy snowstorm?
Answer. When driving at night during heavy snowstorm high beam headlights will create glare and reduce visibility. In such conditions, it is advisable to use the inclusion of fog lights in conjunction with the dipped headlights.
