Fog lights

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Fog lights

Fog lights , in Switzerland fog lights , are wide beam (hence earlier also called broad beam in Austria ), low-mounted headlights on motor vehicles, which are primarily intended for use in poor visibility due to fog or precipitation .

Function and use

If fog lights are used together with the low beam , the only result is a wider illumination in the near field. Self- glare in heavy fog is not reduced. In various vehicle models, the internal fog light is used for better illumination (simple cornering light ) when cornering .

Fog lights alone (or together with the parking lights , but without using the low beam at the same time) reduce the driver's own glare and thus improve visibility. However, their range is less than that of the low beam, so this lighting is technically only useful in thick fog. When driving in the dark and in heavy fog, it is advisable for the driver to constantly adapt the vehicle lighting to the current conditions and, if necessary, to switch between dipped headlights and fog lights.

Legislation

Germany

Fog lights may be used in Germany if the view is significantly impaired by rain , fog or snowfall . They may only shine together with the parking lights and / or the low beam. It is forbidden to use these headlights without significant visibility from the weather . Fog lights are the only headlights in Germany that are allowed to emit not only white but also light yellow light .

Austria

In Austria , fog lights, provided they are permanently installed in the front of the vehicle, can also be used as daytime running lights . In addition, they are not only allowed to be used when the view is impaired, as in Germany, but also during the day and when visibility is good, at night and in the dark and when the road is curved, in combination with parking lights and / or low beam.

Switzerland

In Switzerland , the use of fog lights is regulated in the Road Traffic Act: The fog lights may only be used in fog, blowing snow or heavy rain. Fog lights must produce a wide beam, well-delimited light at the top; it must only be possible to switch them on to the parking lights, the low beam, the high beam or a combination of these lights. The upper edge of your illuminated area must not be above that of the low beam. The unauthorized use of the fog lights is fined with a fine of 40 CHF .

Sweden

In Sweden , fog lights can be used during the day instead of the mandatory daytime running lights. In the dark, they may only be used in fog or heavy rainfall. The simultaneous use of dipped headlights and fog lights is expressly prohibited.

France

The fog lights, known in France as feux de brouillard , may only be used in heavy fog, snowfall or rain. However, this is not mandatory. Other road users must not be dazzled. A violation is regularly punished with 135 €.

See also

literature

  • ECE regulation R48 : Uniform conditions for the approval of vehicles with regard to the installation of lighting and light signaling devices. (PDF file; 6.43 MB).
  • Rudolf Hüppen, Dieter Korp : Auto electrics (all types). Ignition, battery, alternator, starter, instruments, devices, lighting (= Now I'll help myself 20, ZDB -ID 2379181-0 ). 5th edition. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 1971.
  • Robert Bosch GmbH (ed.); Konrad Reif , Karl-Heinz Dietsche and 160 other authors: Kraftfahrtechnisches Taschenbuch. 27th, revised and expanded edition. Vieweg & Teubner, Wiesbaden 2011, ISBN 978-3-8348-1440-1 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ https://www.admin.ch/opc/de/classified-compilation/19680244/index.html
  2. ↑ a b § 17 Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) Paragraph 3 Clause 2
  3. ↑ § 52 Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO) Paragraph 1
  4. ↑ TCS ( Memento of the original from April 6, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. This now applies when the fog lights are switched on @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.tcs.ch
  5. ↑ § 71 Trafikförordning (1998: 1276)
  6. ↑ legifrance.gouv.rf: Code de la route Article R416-7 , accessed April 26, 2018
  7. ↑ legipermis.com: Code de la route: Contravention de classe 4 , accessed on April 26, 2018