It's my understanding that fog lights are supposed to cut under fog to increase visibility, but when they have to be on with the low-beams because of the way Ford designs the headlight switch, the low-beam lights reflect off of the fog and make the fog lights useless. Is there a legal reason, or some other reason Ford designed the headlight switch this way?

 

I think its recommended no matter what, to use your headlights in any foggy situation. Your fog lights may help light the road for you but the stockers won't help with visibility much. That is why you have to have your headlights on to use them. You can put some brighter lights (HID) but...Maybe that would cause more glare. I dunno. They're not completely useless. With my low beams on, when I flick on the fogs, I can tell the difference. With some better lights/bulbs, that could be even better.

 

There are two issues here.
First, the so called Fog lamps are more driving lights than Fog because the lamp or lens color in not correct to help with Fog. Should be deep yellow in color for that purpose.
Secondly, it is a federal regulation the extra lamps cannot be on with high beams. All the FORDS from at least the mid 80s never left the factory allowing them to work on high beams.
Many state codes also do not permit them to be legally on with high beams.
Here in my state, if there are aux lamps mounted above the headlamp line anywhere, they are suppose to be covered unless off road.
Some SUVS have them from the factory and you should see them covered most of the time.
People defeat this but it's not really legal for inspection or on highway use, in most states.
It's a matter of blinding an oncoming driver with lights that cannot dim and usually have no beam focusing lens that amount to anyrhing.

 

your fog lights are so others can see you better when coming towards you, not so you can see better

 

Is that right!
I use my yellow FOGS when I can't see the road very well without them and no else is coming toward me to light up the road, and when there are no edge or centerlines in yellow or white, as a guide..
It's true that having them on in such conditions helps both drivers find there lanes better.

 

Does anybody make a replacement fog light bulb that is amber or yellow?

 

You can get yellow fog light bulbs on e-bay, I used to have them in my Mustang. I think there was a study done where it was found yellow lights don't improve fog visibility over white bulbs, someone help me out with this one.

 

There are several choices out there. Amazon has a Hella Optilux XY Series H10 12V/42W Xenon Yellow Halogen Bulb Set for $23. Find a $2.00 filler to meet the $25 minimum for free shipping.

Andy

 

I had a set of amber lites on my old escort that I had wired to a seperate switch and it made a heck-of-a difference in fog and snow.

 

On the use of amber lights for FOG use.
1. They have to be bright enough to make a difference. Two 55 watt lamps along with the low beams at about 45 watts each, should work well.
2. They need to be focused 'within' the low beam forward area.
3. Not used in place of low or high beams.
4. The seperate lights need to be adjusted for sufficent 'spread' left and right so as not to blind an oncoming driver and to put enough light to the right side off road to see the berm/bank erc, and anything you might hit.
Do not use any lamp that has a clear lens. Only ones that have focus grid pattern control built in.
5. Slow down so you can see where the road is under near zero visability, that sometimes happens.
Basicly, Fog is white so reflects the whiter light back to your eyes. Amber is absorbed a bit more, spreads and not as glaring.

 

the yellow may work better in the fog.. i dont know personally.. BUT they look retarded.. i use fog lights simply for looks.. idk about fog but they do help with visibility 5 ft in front of the truck..

 

It's a legal issue. Fogs or driving lights may only be used in conjunction with low beams, they may not be used with high beams or by themselves, and technically they must be turned off when other traffic is visible - same as the high beam law. Lots of good that does - so the answer you even have them at all is for appearance. Technically, if I were a cop and I wanted to be a *****, if I saw your vehicle with fogs on, you just got a ticket.