Issued by: Department of Transport
Thursday, December 19, 1996
FOG LAMPS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS UNSAFE
In view of the heavy traffic expected during the holiday season, the Department of Transport and the Provincial Traffic Authorities have warned against the dangers of the increasing use of fog lamps under normal driving conditions.
The use of fog lamps under normal driving conditions has severe adverse effects on the other drivers on the road. Rear fog lamps cause irritation to the driver of the following vehicle because of its brightness and they mask the effectiveness of the rear lights of other vehicles. Front fog lamps irritate the driver of the followed vehicle and are sometimes used to project a signal of travelling at high speed with the determination to overtake.
It is also stressed that the unnecessary use of fog lamps is illegal, as a contravention of Regulation 295(6) which states as follows:
"No person shall operate on a public road, a motor vehicle while any fog lamp fitted to such vehicle is lit, except in conditions of poor visibility caused by snow, fog, mist or smoke."
Under normal atmospheric conditions the dipped beam or full beam headlamps are quite adequate to enable the driver to see ahead, provided he is travelling at a reasonable speed. Front fog lamps are not designed to improve such vision since they have a concentrated low beam designed to illuminate the road ahead under conditions of poor visibility.
Front fog lamps has a very sharp cut off which ensures that lights is not reflected back to the driver's eyes by conditions such as rain, snow, hail and smoke. They are intense enough to cut through rain or dust particles to provide low level illumination further ahead than would be possible with dipped bear headlights.
Rear fog lamps, because of the extra illumination, enables the driver of the following vehicle to see the vehicle in front sooner than would otherwise be the case in poor atmospheric conditions.
Fog lamps are designed for special weather conditions and the unnecessary use of it is not only illegal but inconsiderate and dangerous as well.
ISSUED BY: DIRECTOR GENERAL: TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT PRIVATE BAG X193 PRETORIA 0001 TEL: (012) 3093182 FAX: (012) 3242312
CONTACT PERSON: CHARLOTTE JOUBERT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT PRIVATE BAG X193 PRETORIA 0001 TEL: (012) 3093800 FAX: (012) 3255680