Use of front and rear fog lights

I was behind a car the other evening, it was dark they had a new Focus with the rear fog on and it was blinding me. So like any other road user I flashed them and they slammed on their brakes.

It's a shame there is no standard flash sequence to tell people in front to turn off their fogs.

If everyone knew that two flashes meant "Turn Off Your F'n Fog Lights" then there would be no issue.

[ QUOTE ]
I was behind a car the other evening, it was dark they had a new Focus with the rear fog on and it was blinding me. So like any other road user I flashed them and they slammed on their brakes.

It's a shame there is no standard flash sequence to tell people in front to turn off their fogs.

If everyone knew that two flashes meant "Turn Off Your F'n Fog Lights" then there would be no issue.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is the standard, it's just that more and more drivers are stupid /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burningmad.gif

On the very odd occasion I have been flashed, the first thing you do is check your indicators or lights or fogs.

Jesus it's annoying isn't it...

Rear ones annoy me even more than fronts though. Don't mind front ones when it's daylight but once it's getting dark fronts blind the **** out of you too.

I have to say that I have never been dazzled/blinded by front fogs. I have been dazzled/blinded by xenons though. Even those bluey lights on punto's(whatever type of bulb/reflector they are) are distracting.

It goes without saying though that rear fogs dazzle/blind just about everyone.

As for drivers getting more stupid with regard to flashing headlights. Its so true. Even in the space of 10 years its amazing the differance. It used to be that 1 time out of 10 a person wouldn't realise their lights were off after being flashed by you. Nowadays it seems that its the opposite. Only one driver out of every ten that I flash, realise I'm flashing because their lights are off.

I remember a few years ago, I was flashing this idiot for ages that his lights were off with no response. There were streetlights in the area though. He took a turn onto an unlit street and I was going the same direction. I was sure he would then realise his lights were off, but no. My headlights lighting the road from behind him were obviously enough for him. It was only when I switched my headlights off altogether for a second or two and the street went pitch black, that he realised his own lights were off. Muppet! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Like Japper says, when I get flashed, the first thing I do is check my lights, if they are on I check all my mirrors to see if I am dragging a pedestrian underneath the car /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. if its not that I listen out for the squeels of a cat wrapped around my axle, and finally if its not that I keep an eye out for a police checkpoint or speedtrap. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

If its not that, then what the f**k was that moron flashing me for!!?? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[ QUOTE ]

If its not that, then what the f**k was that moron flashing me for!!?? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL - I know just what you mean.

Trouble is, so many more people these days are convinced that there is a personal issue when you flash them - they want to rip your head off for daring to raise your lights at them... sigh.

If I remember correctly, one of the problems is that according to the highway code (or at least the version I used when learning to drive back in the, erm, ah, yes... early 80's) flashing your lights has no official meaning other than to signify your presence to another road user.

Of course, that could all have changed since I last read the book!

But like you, I tend to look first for a fault with my car or driving, then for speed traps, etc.

Fog lights are utterly dementing. With front fogs I don't think it's necessarily that people forget to turn them off or put them on in mist, I just think that they turn them on because "more lights on must be better".

I've stopped flashing people with fogs on now - cowardice at thinking they'll get out with a crowbar...!

My Sportback is the second car I've owned with Xenon lighting, and I'm still surprised at the number of people who flash me thinking I'm using the main beam. Whilst I'm an enormous fan of Xenon lights - IMO they should be standard fit on every car - perhaps they are just too good.

[ QUOTE ]
- IMO they should be standard fit on every car - perhaps they are just too good.

[/ QUOTE ]

Personally I think they should be banned for exactly the same reason as you stated. If people are flashing you it's coz they're being dazzled which = dangerous to everyone bar the owner of said xenons.

worst xenon offenders are the chelsea tractor brigade, especially as everywhere they drive is streetlit so they don't even need them in the first place! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif