Author Topic: Foglights (Read 2797 times)

skypoint · « **on:** February 28, 2005, 12:44:26 am »

Is it worth getting foglights installed?

A problem I find on highways in the GTA is that the lane markings are faded and the highways themselves are poorly illuminated at night (compared to the UK). Also, in the UK we had cats eyes on the road so that even on unlit stretches of highway the lanes were clear.

I suspect, but I'm not sure, that installing fog lamps would make it easier to see lane markers. The Volvo dealer guestimated a total cost of $450 to install them.

What do you think? Are they likely to help at all?

sparky · « **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2005, 12:59:29 am »

When you're going slow in fog or heavy snowfall, they help. But I find they concentrate your attention too close to your car to be useful the rest of the time, maybe even dangerous.

si · « **Reply #2 on:** February 28, 2005, 01:52:39 am »

there will be an improvement, but nothing to write home about.

If you want excellent night 'vision', you should check out the HID systems for the Volvo S60s. I understand Volvo makes them now, and I bet you could get some installed in your car.

And btw, some people hate it if you're running around with your fog lights on all the time.

wing · « **Reply #3 on:** February 28, 2005, 07:01:04 am »

My pet peeve, people that have fog lights on when there is no fog! If it is foggy, sure use them, but if you are getting them for everyday driving, it is a hinderance for you as well as other drivers.

quadzilla · « **Reply #4 on:** February 28, 2005, 07:22:00 am »

What about getting 'driving lamps' installed instead of fogs. I think driving lamps give a longer more forward lighting vs the fogs short sideways lighting. If properly aimed this may help you?

I understand what you are saying about seeing some sections of the hwy. They talk and talk about safety on the hwy but they don't do anything to help you see the lanes on the road.

skypoint · « **Reply #5 on:** February 28, 2005, 09:24:31 am »

Umm ... what are HID systems and "driving lamps" ?

Mdxtasy · « **Reply #6 on:** February 28, 2005, 09:57:15 am »

Skypoint,

HID systems are high intensity discharge headlight systems. Instead of a conventional filament type bulb, the HID bulbs emit light with a gas filled bulb. They emit a 'whiter' light and coupled with a projector lens, provide very good coverage of the road while providing sharp cutoff so you don't blind as many drivers. I don't think the Volvo has projector beams so going the HID route may cause you to blind a lot of drivers as a the light pattern is less focused.

The driving lights emit a different light pattern than fog lights. They are mounted in the same place but instead of a short wide beam like a fog light, the driving light emits a narrow and long light beam that allows you to see further down the road.

S60 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 28, 2005, 10:01:39 am »

Skypoint, Volvo has the Bi-Xenon systems which are a very bright white light. This would cost a lot to switch over and not sure it would help that much considering the costs involved.
Too bad our road departments are so useless here,
it would be nice if they would keep the lane markings painted, so you could tell where to drive. Our safety is not a priority with the government and road departments in Ontario as you are finding out.

(Message edited by S60 on February 28, 2005)

tenpenny · « **Reply #8 on:** February 28, 2005, 10:07:37 am »

Fog lamps are yellow, and are to be used with low beams in foggy / rainy conditions. Driving lamps are white, and are to be used with high beams.

bmorton · « **Reply #9 on:** February 28, 2005, 10:16:07 am »

It's the beam pattern and not the colour of the light that determines whether it's a fog or driving lamp. Some people prefer yellow fog lamps but these days most of them are white.

skypoint · « **Reply #10 on:** February 28, 2005, 10:21:23 am »

Ok, so looks as though the problem the the Ontario government rather than a lack of lighting. So that's $500 saved that I'd otherwise blow getting foglights installed.

I'm just really surprised that they don't have cats eyes installed here like on many highways in the UK. Not only do cats eyes make it real easy to see lanes at night, but they also act as a lane wandering warning system- when your tires rumble unexpectedly, it means that you've drifted over the lane boundary and are hitting cats eyes.

S60 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 28, 2005, 10:26:28 am »

Yeah we are a little behind on this side of the pond. The funny thing is that on some of our highways, cats eyes are used, sometimes you will see them used on short sections of roadways. My guess is this is a test sample, so maybe someday the road department will see fit to spend some money to give us safer roadways.

safristi · « **Reply #12 on:** February 28, 2005, 10:37:39 am »

...whats new

-cat..whoah whoah..!!!! Tom Jones will split his pants before the Minister of Trans Pant portation sells one of his 9 political lives fer a REAL SAFETY programme..rather spend $2 Billion fer Speed Cameras and subsidising private Toll companies...EAT CARROTS SEE BETTER AT NIGHT!!!!!! will be his answer.....

tenpenny · « **Reply #13 on:** February 28, 2005, 10:57:51 am »

The problem with cats eyes here is that they would have to be recessed into the pavement, or they wouldn't last a winter with the plows.

When I was over in Jolly Olde England, DW and I laughed for a while after passing a sign that read "danger - cats eyes removed next 5 miles"
We kept looking for blind cats wandering out in front of us.....

safristi · « **Reply #14 on:** February 28, 2005, 11:00:19 am »

sparky · « **Reply #15 on:** February 28, 2005, 12:08:05 pm »

They rarely use cat's eyes in the northern States, either. Wouldn't last through a week of normal winter weather. It's the winter that wrecks the paint on the roads, too. Most jurisdictions in Canada repaint every year. It just doesn't last.

weebl · « **Reply #16 on:** February 28, 2005, 12:22:33 pm »

I've found my OEM white fog lights to be of very little use in improving my visibility. I do turn them on in dense fog or blinding snow so that oncoming cars can see me better. If it's a separate option, I honestly wouldn't bother with them.

ovr50 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 28, 2005, 12:29:34 pm »

Multi aka Weebl - you're really living up to your original name of "multipath" since you now have a new "path" to the site....couldn't resist..

weebl · « **Reply #18 on:** February 28, 2005, 01:22:37 pm »

lol

tenpenny · « **Reply #19 on:** February 28, 2005, 02:07:10 pm »

If you want to be able to see in fog, use yellow lights. They make a big difference.

Author Topic: Foglights (Read 2797 times)

Mdxtasy

S60

S60