When it's really foggy or raining heavy (or both), Do you drive with your headlights on or off?

Question

On the way home from work the other day, it was really foggy with heavy rain, visibility was horrible. I was surprised at how many idiot drivers didn't have any lights on. Don't they get, it doesn't just make visibility better for them, it helps make  them  more visible to other drivers?

MuddyMole · Accepted Answer

I generally have my lights on all the time - mostly as a habit from driving in parts of Europe where it's a legal requirement (my car is pretty old, so it doesn't have daylight running lights).

Obviously, pretty much every car built in the last 10 years will have automatic headlights now, so I guess everyone just sets the switch to "auto" and goes on their merry way.

The thing I do see a lot, is people driving with sidelights on during the daytime, when it's perhaps slightly drizzly, which makes no sense at all - what makes them think I'm going to notice two little lights with all the intensity of the candles on a birthday cake, if I hadn't already noticed the massive great car they're attached to.

And don't get me started on the ridiculously and dangerously excessive brightness of modern headlights (the German brands are especially bad). It's impossible to drive at night without being blinded by the lights of oncoming cars these days.

WindAtMyBack · Accepted Answer

I lived in the central valley of California for 11 years. It got VERY foggy there. Idiots would drive 80+ MPH with 10-20 feet visibility. There were big pileups with multiple deaths every winter. Sometimes those pileups involved 100+ cars.

If you drive fast, you can't see far enough ahead to stop. If you drive slow, somebody behind you smacks into you. The only safe way to drive in that is to not drive at all. Get the hell off the road as far as you can or risk getting dead.

I remember one time the fog was so bad that I had to get out of my car and walk to find my own home. I seriously couldn't find my home when I was 20 feet from it.

Good fog lights do work. They can work very well, but they have to be aimed right. But that's only to get home. They aren't going to keep you alive out on the highway.

MotherEarth2020 · Accepted Answer

I rarely drive anymore.

The stuff going on with my brain won't let me. Pretty soon I won't be driving at all anymore.

Sometimes life throws you a messed up curve ball. Its a swing or miss, a strike or a hit. Sometimes you just gotta walk to take a base in life

CrazyGirl2 · Accepted Answer

Headlights on, but low-beam! I wish people were educated as to the problems with high-beams in fog! We don’t get fog much in Central Florida, but here in the North, it can get quite foggy, especially in the early/very early morning hours, during the winter months.

prosaic1 · Answer

I don't know about the rest of the country, but everytime it rains in Southern California, our drivers seem to lose about 20 I. Q. points. However, I digress. The correct decision is to turn on your lights, and depending on the severity of the inclement weather, use your fog lights as well if it enhances your vision.

Massageman · Answer

If in doubt, I turn them on.
My car does have a automatic "turn-on-at-dusk" feature, but it doesn't always work, so I just got used to doing it by hand. Takes about a second to turn them on. Many truckers run with them on 100% of the time.

Emiliamazing · Answer

Lights and fog lights are always on in foggy or inclement weather for both of us.
I just want to be visible, neither of us have brightly colored vehicles and I think it helps those around us who are trying to navigate the weather conditions.

ChrisMaster69 · Answer

Headlights, or driving lights need to be on all the time.

the human brain does not see that brown car without headlights, it does see the brown car with headlights on.

You come out of a side road in country / rural and it’s hard seeing cars for trees, dead ground etc, lights on make it safer for your brain to pick them out from background ‘noise ‘.

WhiteSteve · Answer

Headlights on. HUGE pet peeve of mine when others don’t do it. And you have to turn them all the way on and get your rear lights illuminated too. Too many rely on their Daytime Running Lights, and that doesn’t take care of the whole visibility problem.

AviatorTom · Answer

Assuming the car is not equipped with fog lights (few cars are) ... Headlights should be on, low beams only. High beams will just cause a complete white-out and the driver won't be able to see anything.

Grond21 · Answer

I always have my headlights on at all times. Even during a bright sunny day, it makes my car seven times more visible to other drivers. Also if it's foggy I do not have my high beams on because it makes it less visible

laurieluvsit · Answer

California law requires lights to be on during rain and fog.  It is always scary driving in fog especially though

NathanDavis · Answer

yes...

whirled_up_girl · Answer

Headlights on but no high beams even if it’s dark out because the reflection makes it harder to see. Headlights though mainly so others can see me.

TonyMetal___86 · Answer

Headlights on sponge, also the driver must drive slowly, but in you're case miss brains muffins, you don't have to turn the lights on in you're mini van, you just have to turn the ice cream music on and all the states will be aware that the ice cream van is passing by haha

Everyone will stop their cars and run under their umbrellas towards the sponge's ice cream mini van to get a cone of ice cream and the sponge will double the prices because of the bad weather 🤣🤣

Avicenna · Answer

Anyone who doesn't have their headlights on in such a situation is a fool. And it may be advisable to have your 4-way on for visibility as well.

CaptainOverthink · Answer

In my country it's law to always have them on regardless of weather. Cars usually don't have the option to switch them off practically here.

And I think it's s good rule.
If it was not so then Yes, I would turn them on.
The best any good driver can do is to drive safe and inform the surrounding of your position and intent regardless if you think you're alone on the road or not. Just make it a habit to be thourough.

Phoenix98 · Answer

I turn em on if the weather is like that. Helps avoid accidents.

hypojoe · Answer

One reason could be that the newer cars have really bright headlights designed to shine further down the road because of todays higher speeds and in fog those lights make it harder to see in front of you next time your in fog hit your high beams you will see what i mean

Fireguy17 · Answer

My truck is 2 years old, and I have it set that the lights come on when the wipers come on.
I leave the headlights on automatic and the daytime running lights are on along with the tail lights, which is a good feature.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

I don't have lights on my head.
Driving: I was educated to be conscious about electric consumption Dad always told me to switch off the light when I don't need it.
However - on my scooter (and on the bike as well) there's no option to switch the lamp things off. Instead, I avoid braking - that also triggers one extra light.
My actual 'answer' is between the lines. You figured that, I guess :)

TheLoneTerran · Answer

Many places it's very illegal to have lights off during that kind of weather. Your lights are supposed to be on, but higbeams/brights must be off.

whereismyjohnny · Answer

Headlights on. Here where I live, you are required to have them on from November until the end of March. It's regulation.

Flower7 · Answer

I keep they on. I’ve heard that every time the windshield wipers are on, the headlights should be on also.

Bricealan · Answer

My Model S is automatic with headlights, and I do leave the Fog lights on most of the time, just for added visibility.

KatherineJ · Answer

I can’t answer one way or the other because it depends on if it’s also dark or not. If it’s not dark, I put on the fog lights only. If it’s dark, fog lights AND headlights.

Anonymous · Answer

Im pretty sure it’s a requirement by law to have your headlights on in low visibility regardless if the sun is up or not.

Anonymous · Answer

So, you don't have fog lights in the States?

This is the sort of thing which makes Europeans think there is something wrong with you.

Why wouldn't you have them? It's nothing to have them, every car in Europe has them and has had them for ages, literally every car I have ever driven has had fog lights to at least the rear and everything that isn't 40 years old has fronts as well.

Paul09 · Answer

Car lights should always be on while you are driving. I never turn them off. You are way more visible. And a lot of people have zero clue when to use them, and make them a hazard in the road. If I had fig lights, I'd turn them on during foggy days.

MrPickles13 · Answer

Headlights on and possibly having the fog lights on as well depending on road conditions

sage2021 · Answer

Actually I would turn on my cars fog lights, but I don't think cars have fog lights anymore.

Anonymous · Answer

Well in my country you have to have them on all the time when driving. It’s illegal not to and if the police sees it you’ll get a ticket if they’re off, no matter the reason.

StephanieGirl75 · Answer

My car has auto lights they turn and off when needed.

Peege23081985 · Answer

Mine are automatic lights, I have no control over that. That said they usually are on.

josephinelcajon · Answer

In CA its the law plus I live in the mountains and its good safety

virtue2332 · Answer

I think it's important to be as visible as possible but I have been in cars that having the lights on made it harder to see in heavy fog. So try them and see but I say you being able to see is slightly more important that being more visible.

exitseven · Answer

When you have your headlights on, the water droplets reflect the light back at you and you cannot see as well.

KrakenAttackin · Answer

Agreed. I think many have automatic headlights and they don't think to turn them on (stupid).

Guardian45 · Answer

Research has proven headlights in any weather (even sunshine) reduce accidents.

Jerre · Answer

Headlights come on automatically when windshield wipers turned on. Always turn on in fog.

IsoUser · Answer

Always preferred headlights on just to be safe along with seatbelt.

Ballsack · Answer

Lights on, if you're really scared you can just drive with your hazards on

altdbob · Answer

There are a lot of ID 10 T people driving out there. More so since drivers education was taken out of high schools.

DryGermanGuy · Answer

Front and rear fog lights are mandatory in Europe, for good reason.

ArrowheadSW · Answer

If it is that dark, I'd have my headlights on.

genericname85 · Answer

I always have them on.

dustybiker · Answer

With fog lights.

Likes2drive · Answer

On so people can see me

Wise4myage · Answer

Both are on, but no high beams in the fog.

Smashingdoozy · Answer

I put my fog lights on 🙃

Slim57 · Answer

On and you're a f*kn idiot if you don't

Bklynbadboy12 · Answer

I drive with mine on but only use my low beam

lpoots · Answer

no fog lights on my car

humanearth · Answer

Depends how dark it is outside

BoobMan · Answer

Headlights on, but not highbeams.

JoyGirl · Answer

Definitely on.

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Headlights on

Alexalex92 · Answer

Lights on but on lower beam

Open2It · Answer

Actually, I always have my headlights on.

EaterPeter · Answer

It's a law

helva · Answer

Low beam headlights.

Pete671 · Answer

On, not headlamps though,,,

pizzalovershouse · Answer

Of course on

Fuentes · Answer

On always

When it's really foggy or raining heavy (or both), Do you drive with your headlights on or off?

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When it's really foggy or raining heavy (or both), Do you drive with your headlights on or off?

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