Anyone else noticed this..

Today the Mrs went out in my car and i noticed something a bit odd...

 

Car had been driven onto the drive, when she got in and started it up, the headlights and front fog lights came on..  (headlights not surprising as it was raining and i have that option set) but both front fogs were on and she reversed out in a straight line and then turned..

 

She then went and turned round at the end of the street and came back down which at this stage the lights were all off and wipers set to auto still, (it was just light drizzle)

 

So the question is.... why were the front fog lights on ? I understand for turning lights... but not both at the same time. ??

 

This may happen everyday, but as im in the drivers seat i would never know

Edited 6 November, 20169 yr by RickTT

To illuminate as much of the sides of the car as possible. I find it particularly useful while reversing round a long sweeping curve into my drive. I think it is the norm.

Yep totally normal. Helps when manoeuvring in tight dark places where you need to keep an eye on the front end on any obstacles

Edited 6 November, 20169 yr by SuperbTWM

Cheers - thanks for the confirmation... never notice been the driver pulling off the drive!

It's all there if you have days to read the manual   

 

bottom right hand of page 72 "The two fog lights are switched on when you shift into the reverse gear"

 

That's the trouble with being an 'ol git' with nothing better to do than try to read 250 pages of an owners manual only to find that there are another 75 in the infotainment system manual 

 

That's almost more research and study than you need to get a degree 

I haven't noticed it being particularly helpful reversing, but it can't hurt either.  I wish that the lights under the door mirrors came on when i'm reversing so I could see the kerb in the mirror at night.  I notice that BMW and Mercedes use the door handle lights to do just that.  I wonder if this can be enabled in VCDS....  I better go dig through that thread i suppose..

Edited 7 November, 20169 yr by Enobar

It's a hand down from the S2.

It is one of these things that does not tie in with the UK Highway Code.

Like Cornering Fog Lights and One Coming on needed or not, in street lit towns even.

 

They are Fog Lights and just automatically coming on as a Driver Selects Reverse.

No 'Reduced Visibility' of under 100 meters, other road users might be coming towards you and for some reason your car has on Sidelights, Dipped Beams and a pair of Fog Lights illuminated, maybe also an indicator.

Some driving a car not even knowing they have Front Fog Lights on where there is no need and they may cause issues to other road users..

 

Construction & Use, EU Type Approval & UK Highway Code / Traffic Law at odds and out of date and needing reviewed and revised to suit what Manufacturers Activate or offer.

Edited 7 November, 20169 yr by Offski

It is one of these things that does not tie in with the UK Highway Code.

Like Cornering Fog Lights and One Coming on needed or not, in street lit towns even.

 

They are Fog Lights and just automatically coming on as a Driver Selects Reverse.

No 'Reduced Visibility' of under 100 meters, other road users might be coming towards you and for some reason your car has on Sidelights, Dipped Beams and a pair of Fog Lights illuminated, maybe also an indicator.

Some driving a car not even knowing they have Front Fog Lights on where there is no need and they may cause issues to other road users..

 

Construction & Use, EU Type Approval & UK Highway Code / Traffic Law at odds and out of date and needing reviewed and revised to suit what Manufacturers Activate or offer.

Alternatively, manufacturers could not install "features" which breach the law.

It is one of these things that does not tie in with the UK Highway Code.

Like Cornering Fog Lights and One Coming on needed or not, in street lit towns even.

 

They are Fog Lights and just automatically coming on as a Driver Selects Reverse.

No 'Reduced Visibility' of under 100 meters, other road users might be coming towards you and for some reason your car has on Sidelights, Dipped Beams and a pair of Fog Lights illuminated, maybe also an indicator.

Some driving a car not even knowing they have Front Fog Lights on where there is no need and they may cause issues to other road users..

 

Construction & Use, EU Type Approval & UK Highway Code / Traffic Law at odds and out of date and needing reviewed and revised to suit what Manufacturers Activate or offer.

 

Yes - I agree.

Perhaps they now classify them as Auxiliary Driving Lights too ;-)

Perhaps they do, and that would sort that out.

 But if the same Front Lights that come on as Fogs, and the same as when you put on the rear Fogs they will be Fog Lights.

Mine come on while reversing, as do the fog lights on the Wife's Yeti. Must be a feature across the range?

They can be deactivated.  Then if you are reversing and need more lighting from the front Fog lights you switch them on in the old fashioned way with a switch.

That means that they are used when needed and not as others are coming towards you.

'Simply clever' / Skoda.

There are different ECE regs for fogs and cornering lights, however it's possible to make a single lamp for both functions.
 
It's a fog light when turned on using the fog light switch but considered a cornering light when used in the following situations:
 

6.20.7. Electrical connections
The cornering lamps shall be so connected that they cannot be activated unless the main-beam headlamps or the dipped-beam headlamps are switched ON at the same time.
 
6.20.7.1.
The cornering lamp on one side of the vehicle may only be switched ON automatically when the direction-indicators on the same side of the vehicle are switched ON and/or when the steering angle is changed from the straight-ahead position towards the same side of the vehicle.
 
The cornering lamp shall be switched OFF automatically when the direction indicator is switched OFF and/or the steering angle has returned in the straight ahead position.
 
6.20.7.2.
When the reversing lamp is switched ON, both cornering lamps may be switched on simultaneously, independently from the steering wheel or direction-indicator position. In this case, cornering lamps shall be switched OFF when the reversing lamp is switched OFF.
 
6.20.9. Other requirements
The cornering lamps shall not be activated at vehicle speeds above 40 km/h.

Just as HID and LED lighting is legal, so are cornering lights regardless of the weather or even if it's a secondary function of an appropriately designed fog light.

There are different ECE regs for fogs and cornering lights, however it's possible to make a single lamp for both functions.

 

It's a fog light when turned on using the fog light switch but considered a cornering light when used in the following situations:

 

Just as HID and LED lighting is legal, so are cornering lights regardless of the weather or even if it's a secondary function of an appropriately designed fog light.

Because "shining bright lights into your near field of vision" is such a great way of increasing how far you can see.

There are different ECE regs for fogs and cornering lights, however it's possible to make a single lamp for both functions.

 

It's a fog light when turned on using the fog light switch but considered a cornering light when used in the following situations:

 

Just as HID and LED lighting is legal, so are cornering lights regardless of the weather or even if it's a secondary function of an appropriately designed fog light.

good post.

 

thanks

Which is why the Construction & Use is at odds with the UK Highway Code.

Also the UK MOT test where Auxiliary lights are not part of the test.

Which is why the Construction & Use is at odds with the UK Highway Code.

Also the UK MOT test where Auxiliary lights are not part of the test.

 

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 are superseded by the ECE regs which permit cornering lights.

 

The UK Highway code doesn't mention cornering lights as far as I'm aware. I believe the most relevant parts are:

 

Rule 114

You MUST NOT

- use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders

- use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling other road users (see Rule 226).

Rule 226

You MUST use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres (328 feet). You may also use front or rear fog lights but you MUST switch them off when visibility improves (see Rule 236).

Rule 236

You MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226) as they dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves.

 

Correctly fitted and aligned cornering lights should not cause dazzle or discomfort. They aren't fog lights so there are no weather restrictions.

 

I'm not exactly sure why you think they are at odds with one another?

 

As for the UK MOT, it's only a minimal set of basic tests at best. The fact that aftermarket HID kits can pass despite having the potencial to cause much more dazzle and discomfort speaks volumes...

 

I would agree that a beam alignment check could be added to ensure fogs and cornering lights are at the very least correctly aligned.

I don't see how having 55w lights flashing on and off every time you move the steering (or select reverse gear) is compatible with Rules 114, 226 and 236?

There are UK Police Officers that stop vehicles that are driving with front fog lights on, some even mistake Mk2 Fabia vRS DRL's as being Fog Lights,

it would be interesting to see one of those not well informed traffic officers actions if as they drive towards a stopped vehicle in the dark with Side & Dipped beam on then switch the 'Not Fog lights because the are acting as Reversing assist front lights' on.

 

Anyway we know many need special needs lighting and for the auto function.

There are UK Police Officers that stop vehicles that are driving with front fog lights on, 

...and the other leg plays "Jingle Bells".

Are you saying that is not true?  Internet Myth!

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/305852-pulled-over-for-having-drls-on

You need to read the threads then where members here have been pulled in with the Sidelights & Dipped beam on and the officer thought the DRL / Sidelight unit at reduced brightness was Fog Lights. 

Look at the Pinned Thread in the Mk2 Fabia section, or i can find you the posts in other threads.

 

This will be just fiction as well no doubt.

http://swiftcover.com/about/press/fog-lights

Edited 8 November, 20169 yr by Offski

They are cornering lamps NOT fog lamps when they activate in accordance with the design. i.e. at very slow speed forwards when turning more than 'x' degrees or when reversing.

 

In other words during a manoeuvre and NOT driving along the highway. Cornering lamps have their own standard (ECE R119 I think) which outlines the strict standard required in their design and manufacture.

 

Front fog lamps on the other hand are to be used when you are driving along the highway and your forward vision is compromised; their incorrect use would be an issue. ( I know we know that but said just to be clear where I am coming from)

 

So lets be very clear that you are NOT in breach of any Regulation or in conflict with the Highway Code in using them in this way. Maybe it would be prudent for the Highway Code at its next update to include some words about DRL and cornering lamps along with one or two other things but I am not holding my breath about when that might be. My favourite is that you can still legally drive along a properly lit 30 mph road with just your 'side' lights on. However that requires a change in the Law so makes it even less likely to change!

 

As to whether cornering lights blind other drivers? I guess you have to ask yourself why the engineers and regulators would allow such a design to be put onto the highway. I know what my my answer would be.

 

I well remember my Grandad complaining that the introduction of flashing amber indicators was stupid because it would cause more accidents due to drivers being blinded by the bright flashing light 

 

p.s. the business with the Police appears to relate to an incident in 2014. Seems to me all that one has to do if stopped is to advise the Officer of the car design and let him decide what to do next. No need to get involved assertively or aggressively. Just let the Officer do his duty. Is there any evidence that anyone has ever been issued with a ticket ? I doubt that you would find anyone.

 

p.p.s. I havent checked but aren't the lower front lamps 35W and not 55W?

 

p.p.s. The best fun comment I have read about cornering lights said ' they are a brilliant safety feature because they are an automatic indicator for all those BMW drivers who never found their indicator stalk"   

Edited 9 November, 20169 yr by Sagalout

I don't know what the issue is personally. When somebody comes towards me with their high beam's on it blinds me, when somebody comes at me with their fog lights on when there is no fog they are no brighter than their headlamps so it doesn't bother me in the slightest