Stop/Start Tech & DSG

[CraigW]

What is the big deal really if the lights stay on?

Courteous driving practices, especially at night. Would you leave your rear fog light on with a car behind you that could obviously see you?

No because having your fog lights on when not foggy is illegal. There are far worse driving indescretions than having your rear lights on.

[Bill_the_Bear]

I personally find the whole fog light problem overrated.  Yes someone with the rear light on is a little annoying but people driving too fast around roundabouts and/or failing to indicate is much more irritating not to mention dangerous.  And I have no clue why anyone finds front fogs annoying when modern DRLs are significantly brighter.

[monkeyhanger]

I personally find the whole fog light problem overrated.  Yes someone with the rear light on is a little annoying but people driving too fast around roundabouts and/or failing to indicate is much more irritating not to mention dangerous.  And I have no clue why anyone finds front fogs annoying when modern DRLs are significantly brighter.

It’s usually the Charvas in their 10 year old Corsa/Astra that permanently have their fogs on. “look at my car, it’s so sporty it has front fog lights” (and a 1.2 engine ragged to within an inch of its life). They fail to realise that most cars now have them on as standard.

I do find front fogs far more of a dazzle hazard than DRLs, and really don’t see why the EU is even pushing for DRLs. I think motorbikes are far less conspicuous as motorbikes now, which for me is a real hazard. In the past you saw lights in your rear mirror and knew that either a motorbike or a Volvo were behind you and made preparations for the real possibility that the motorbike was ready to do a manoeuvre which may not be the cleverest.

[dubber36]

What is the big deal really if the lights stay on?

Courteous driving practices, especially at night. Would you leave your rear fog light on with a car behind you that could obviously see you?

No because having your fog lights on when not foggy is illegal. There are far worse driving indescretions than having your rear lights on.

I'm not saying about having the fog light on when it's not foggy, I'm suggesting that it is good practice to turn it off (even in fog) if the car behind is close enough to be able to see your ordinary tail lights clearly. A good indication of this is if you can see the lights of the car in front of you.

To my mind, having to stare at blazing brake lights from the car in front when sat in traffic is not all that pleasant. If the driver in front thought that too, it would be nice. Just like holding a door open for someone. You don't have to do it, but it is appreciated.

[theflash]

It’s usually the Charvas in their 10 year old Corsa/Astra that permanently have their fogs on. “look at my car, it’s so sporty it has front fog lights” (and a 1.2 engine ragged to within an inch of its life). They fail to realise that most cars now have them on as standard.

I have a mate who argues that keeping his fog lights on whilst on the motorway gives him more presence 

he's was mid 30's and drove a fiat at the time 

[monkeyhanger]

It’s usually the Charvas in their 10 year old Corsa/Astra that permanently have their fogs on. “look at my car, it’s so sporty it has front fog lights” (and a 1.2 engine ragged to within an inch of its life). They fail to realise that most cars now have them on as standard.

I have a mate who argues that keeping his fog lights on whilst on the motorway gives him more presence 

he's was mid 30's and drove a fiat at the time 

In his situation I’d want less presence. I’d be driving around with a balaclava on to avoid being recognised! 

[CraigW]

What is the big deal really if the lights stay on?

Courteous driving practices, especially at night. Would you leave your rear fog light on with a car behind you that could obviously see you?

No because having your fog lights on when not foggy is illegal. There are far worse driving indescretions than having your rear lights on.

I'm not saying about having the fog light on when it's not foggy, I'm suggesting that it is good practice to turn it off (even in fog) if the car behind is close enough to be able to see your ordinary tail lights clearly. A good indication of this is if you can see the lights of the car in front of you.

To my mind, having to stare at blazing brake lights from the car in front when sat in traffic is not all that pleasant. If the driver in front thought that too, it would be nice. Just like holding a door open for someone. You don't have to do it, but it is appreciated.

Sorry, I still don't see what a the fuss is about. I've never once got annoyed by someone having their brake lights on when stationary. People aggresively cutting in or tailgating pisses me off but people with brake lights on, meh

[dubber36]

Sorry, I still don't see what a the fuss is about. I've never once got annoyed by someone having their brake lights on when stationary. People aggresively cutting in or tailgating pisses me off but people with brake lights on, meh

Maybe you don't.

I was using the comparison with rear fog lights to try and illustrate my point. If you were driving in the fog and visibility was sufficiently reduced that the rear fog light was necessary, when a car came up behind you, close enough for it to be obvious that he could see your normal tail lights, would you turn your fog light off to prevent dazzling him? 

Brake lights are the same intensity as fogs lights and you have 3 of them. Just saying

[Jules Winfield]

I personally find the whole fog light problem overrated.  Yes someone with the rear light on is a little annoying but people driving too fast around roundabouts and/or failing to indicate is much more irritating not to mention dangerous.  And I have no clue why anyone finds front fogs annoying when modern DRLs are significantly brighter.

Because it's distracting, potentially dangerous (has that person flashed me or not?) and indicates that the person is clueless and does not know (a) what lights are appropriate for certain conditions and (b) how to operate their car correctly.  When there's a tiny bit of rain around, I don't need or want someone tailgating me with all their lights on.

It's all about consideration to other road users.  It's the same sort of self-absorbed halfwits who take up two spaces in  supermarket car parks, park on double yellow lines, beep their horn in the middle of the night and so on.  The sort of person who thinks their stupid number plate with dodgy character spacing and daft font looks cool and that other road users desperately want to know what their name is.

DRLs are similarly annoying.  We aren't in Norway and it doesn't get dark at 1pm.  One of the first things I did when I got my Mark 6 is to turn the things off.  Fortunately as it had dynamic lighting Xenons, I didn't have to faff about with those silly direction illuminating fog lights.

[Sootchucker]

Slightly off topic, but last night I just wanted to check to see what sort of illumination I got fro the LED front fogs, and I was staggered ! On my old Rocco, I could hardly see any difference at all with the fogs on, but my god, the GTI/GTD units are bloody bright and give a real good spread of light !