Today's cars have a wide variety of headlights that serve different purposes and provide important safety features. It may be difficult to know exactly what each light does and how it works.
Headlights and fog lights are two useful lighting tools when driving in poor visibility conditions. It is important for drivers to understand the functions and purposes of fog lights vs headlights and make the most of them.
In this article, we will explain in detail the difference between headlights and fog lights to help drivers better understand these two and avoid lighting mistakes. Let's get started.
What Are Fog Lights?
The front fog light is a car light located below the headlight assembly and is designed to provide illumination in poor visibility conditions such as fog, snow and dust.
Generally, headlights have a hard time penetrating thick fog, especially in winter. This is where fog lights come in. Fog lamps produce a wide, sharp beam of light that passes through thick fog very smoothly. It ensures that other drivers can see your car even in low visibility conditions.
Because the fog light is a bit narrow in shape, it may not be a soothing light for riders coming from the opposite direction. So it's ideal to use fog lights only when there's a thick fog around you and you need it to make sure you're not blinded by it.
What Are Headlights?
When classifying auto lights, headlights are the easiest to identify. The lights mounted on the front of the vehicle are usually called headlights.
As the main light of a car, the headlight is located in a higher position, usually closer to the center of the vehicle. The lights are designed to show the highway and a wide area of cars ahead. The lights are designed to send a powerful beam forward to illuminate the next stretch of road the driver must cross.
However, these lights can also be used as high beams, often to signal through denser darkness on highways or from approaching vehicles on opposite sides.
Fog Lights vs Headlights: The Key Differences
The headlight is located in the center of the car and designed to illuminate the road in the distance and the car ahead. Fog lights are smaller auxiliary lights located under the bumper that instantly illuminate the road near the car.
Headlights are your primary light source, that is long-distance lighting on roads. Fog lights, on the other hand, are accessory lighting that are useful in extreme weather conditions or darkness.
Now, learn more about the differences between fog lights vs headlights in terms of their functions, color, placement, etc.
Functions
Headlights are usually used for general lighting for night driving. In addition, it is used to emit high beams to assess the distance to dark areas and alert approaching vehicles to your presence.
Fog lights, in fact, are used as auxiliary lights for headlights, which can provide you with a clear picture on foggy days, rainy days, snow and other weather, as well as on dusty roads.
When to Use
Headlights need to be turned on during dark hours, from sunset to sunrise. Besides, you should use the low beams in fog.
Fog lights are only needed in bad weather such as fog, rain, snow, or when it is difficult to see the road in front of you, such as when you riding on a mist or dust road. Therefore, If the view is good, it is best not to use fog lights for primary purpose.
Color
Headlights are always white, while fog lights are usually amber or yellow, but can also be white.
Placement
Headlights are placed in the center of the car, pointing towards the middle of your line of sight.
Fog lights are placed in a lower position of the car to prevent glare from reflecting off the fog.
FAQs About Fog light vs Headlight
Are Fog Light the Same As Low/High Beam Lights?
No. Fog lights and low/high beam lights are not the same things. Fog light is a separate beam of light which is located below the headlight assembly. While the low/high beam headlight is located in the headlight assembly of the vehicle.
Are Fog Lights Mandatory?
No. In the US, fog lights are considered supplemental equipment, so they are not mandatory.
Can Fog Lights Be Used As Headlights?
No. Fog lamps are auxiliary lamps that can be used in conjunction with headlights in low visibility environments. However, they are not a substitute for your regular headlights.
Final Words
Hopefully this article will let you know the difference between fog lights and headlights so you can decide which one to use.
If you are a person who needs to ride regularly through foggy or snowy roads at night, it is almost inevitable that you will need fog lights.
In addition, most American states have their own laws regarding what lights are required and the conditions and times. Keep abreast of local laws so you don't break any and cause a nuisance to other drivers.
