i got my mot coming up soon .and i have noticed that i have no rear fog lights on my 1989 townace ..anyone know if this is legal? - (#771) J Adgo, 7 Aug 01

When they are imported they have to have a rear fog fitted to get it through the MOT, so I guess you need one! - (#774) Phil Jones, 8 Aug 01

Hang on
I do not have an extra light and passed my MOT without problems. Actually, I seem to remember that when I switch on my front foglights, the rear lights just become brighter. I only had to use them once, I'll have to try again...
Holger - (#776) Holger Laux, 8 Aug 01

the MOT man shouldn't mind as long as you have a red light that you call a foglamp, wired through a switch fed by the sidelight circuit. Whether two of your spare brakelamps are wired thus, or you hand a seperate lamp off the bumper shouldn't matter - (#779) David Miller, 8 Aug 01

I was going to utilise the second set of brake lights at the rear of my van but was told by my local testing garage that fog lamps have to be a minimum of 2 inches away from your tail lights. If this is true then the brake lights can't be used. I have an ugly looking lamp slung on the bottom of my bumper at the moment but if you pass the mot with the brake idea then let me know. - (#784) Mark, 9 Aug 01

That is open to some arguement. Some models of Lada Riva had a dual filament bulb for tail/ fog - (#785) David Miller, 9 Aug 01

Thanks for the replies , Looks like i need to configure some rear fog lights to pass my mot soon , As my front fog lights are not wired in I have decided to wire these and maybe the unused secondary brake lights (with high intensity bulbs if pos )and utilise these as my rear fogs lights .I noticed a spare switch on the dash to the right of the steering wheel( next to the green light ) with a light symbol on it . I reckon all this will impose qiute a heavy current and as such a relay will be needed - any one know if this switch to the right of the steering wheel (Not the stalk one )with the light symbol on it suplies a relay ? also any advise on your own rear fog light set up would be much appreciated eg ..are yours mounted under the bumper ..etc - (#783) J Adgo, 8 Aug 01

Hello,
On my Masterace, the dashboard switch, with the light symbol on it controls the inbuilt foglights. I am not certain but, given the thorough way in which the other components are wired, I should think that these lights are controlled via a relay. My high intensity rear fog light is a proprietary unit, wired in with an extra, illuminated swith on the dash. It is not linked to the dipped headlights in any way, ie, it can be operated entirely independantly, and this arrangement did not compromise the MOT. It was originally fitted below the bumper but, as it seemed to be vunerable there, I have now mounted it on the top of the bumper. I think it is a Halfords lamp and it's dimensions allow it to sit on the bumper, without projection past it, and the tailgate clears it OK. It looks better too. - (#787) John Davis, 9 Aug 01

really an extra set of brake lights that are not used an all models? - (#788) skippy, 9 Aug 01

The rear fog on my Masterace is fitted under the bumper and is a proprietary unit. It seems to be exactly the same as the reply above. - (#793) S. Duce, 11 Aug 01

With reference to the earlier thread "Ace Jam Photo's",

I think rear fog lights are one of the more useless, and actually dangerous things to have on a townie. I have very rarely come across fog so thick that the fog lights had to be used. IMHO they are dangerous because they distract by their brightnes from the brake lights, and it is precisely because brake lights rely on a good contrast that having a pair of bright red lights near them is a bad idea. Additionally, it is very tiring driving behind bright fog lights.

Most people use the rear fogs far too often, (and not infrequently with only side-lights at the front) and I would HATE to have to drive behind a townie with two blazing red lights just nicely at saloon-drivers-eye-level. One mod I won't be making.

OK, now you can flame me! :-)
- (#8858) Tom Lister, 4 Jun 03 16:48

And the four brake lights in constant use are where?

- (#8859) Clive, 5 Jun 03 0:36

You're having a larf, Clive. The four brake lights coming on intermittently are a completely different proposition to constantly-on fog lights. The whole point of brake lights is their on-off operation and the intensity compared to other lights at the rear of the vehicle. Put two blazing lights on the back on *all the time* and you are:

1
Reducing the effect of your brake lights

2
Stressing following drivers once they have you in view.

On your way to work, time how long you are on the brakes (and therefor your brake lights are on) as a proportion of total driving time. Maybe 5% of the time? It isn't comparable to having fogs on all the time.

PS In fog, once a following vehicle is in sight one is supposed to extinguish one's rear fog lights. I wonder how many people do that?

- (#8860) Tom Lister, 5 Jun 03 2:10

Fog?

Hmmm.
I seem to remember there being a bit of fog one morning earlier in the year.

Yes that's right, I was so glad I could finally use my front Fog lights. Once.

But seriously, I didn't even know these had rear Fog lights, let alone that you're supposed to turn them off when someone else sees you (HeHeHeHe).

Dave (in Perth, Western Australia)

I agree with the general logic of Tom - the contrast effect would be lessened, but then again with my vast experience in fog (not!) I can't see why you would need rear ones! (Not stupid, just almost never been in SERIOUS fog before)

- (#8861) DaveW, 5 Jun 03 2:41

Well I beg to differ. We get a lot of fog in the north of England and although the majority of drivers misuse the use of fog lights, on a motorway at night and in thick fog I want the idiot belting along behind me at 70+ mph to see me well in advance so he can slow down before ploughing into the back of me.

- (#8862) Ian Dunse, 5 Jun 03 4:15

Tom I think you are referring to bad driving practice. I have driven many miles in all sorts of vehicles, I've attended several driving courses not available to the general public. After all of this I find that lack of observation is the biggest problem on the road. Use of lights inaccordance with the rules and regulations is I feel where you are coming from. I was trying to point out that four brakes lights at over bonnet level in a stop start situation, together with a driver who can not engage neutral or handbrake, is for more tiring that a pair of lights advertising a vehicle in poor weather, which you have the option to drop back from. Not so in a queue.
Now if you want to start me on a rant with regard to front fog lights...
Dave the UK (Europe?) have a requirement to have a rear light fitted on all vehicles for normal road use, may not be the same down under.

- (#8863) Clive, 5 Jun 03 4:17

I was havin' a bit o' fun.

There is no regulation here in Aus, but that is mostly becuase we have one or two days a year with fog, and even less with serious fog. I can remember one day early this year when visibility was down to about 50m to the next vehicle with lights, but mostly it would be what you guys call would probably call a light mist.
(Some people still driving without any lights on though!)

I have seen the results of Fog+motorway+speed on the news, and can definitely see the sense, but it also makes sense that once you can see the car behind, they would suffer from the intensity, and they can see you without them.

Front fog lights are another issue, and most newer cars seem to have them and people over here drive with them and their side lights on at dusk - illegal here, and annoying, but people just don't seem to know.

Perth is just about the perfect climate. It is winter here at the moment, and the nights are about 3-4 degrees C, days about 20-23 C. It rained a bit yesterday, but I didn't take an umbrella nor a jacket, and managed to stay dry. It rained last night, but this morning is a crisp and somewhat patchy day, but I didn't even turn the windscreen wipers on. A bit like 'Camelot' really.

If you consider all that, it is not surprising that I know NOTHING about fog driving.

Dave.

- (#9008) DaveW, 5 Jun 03 20:06