We at Just Kampers understand how inconsistent the Great British weather can be. To help you avoid problems during your travels in your classic and modern VW’s, we have put together a guide. Foggy weather covers anything from light mist and small pockets of fog to mass coverings of thick fog.
Driving in fog
Driving from place to place isn’t encouraged in the height of fog season, however sometimes you will have no choice but to go ahead with your plans. And fog doesn’t always strike when expected, on occasion there will be the odd patch of mist on an early summer morning. When driving in fog during the day, it’s best to use your front fog lights or your daylight running lights.
Use your fog lights! As you hit areas of lower visibility, you should use your fog lights. In seasons where fog is to be expected, it’s a good idea to check that your fog lights are working and purchase spares, just in case you need them. Even though it’s often said that fog lights should only be used when visibility drops below 100 metres, if you were to have an accident in foggy conditions, not using your fog lights could invalidate your insurance.
Don’t forget that once conditions improve, you must turn your fog lights off! It’s an offence to dazzle other drivers with your lights and could potentially cause an accident. You can in some cases even receive a fine, if you’re caught with them on in conditions not considered foggy.
No matter how many lights you have on, once you hit fog, it’s best to slow down. Even if you have all your lights on, there’s a chance that someone up ahead doesn’t and if you don’t have enough time to react, there’s a high risk of an accident. By decreasing your speed you give yourself much more time to react to any potential problems.
At the end of the day, it’s not recommended to drive your car in foggy/misty conditions, but it cannot always be avoided. For updates on the weather, visit the Met Office website via this link. Use this link to check the weather forecast before you set off and to check for any potential interruptions to your journey.
Image credit Shane Rounce, via Unsplash
What’s the difference between full beam and fog lights?
Fog lights are different than any other lights on the car, more specifically the rear fog lamp. The rear fog lamp is a red light, very similar in brightness to when a brake light is operational. The rear fog lamp is located on the back of the car and it’s purpose is to alert other drivers to your presence up ahead.
Some cars are fitted with front fog lights, these are often yellow/white and are dipped downwards specifically to reduce glare from the fog and mist laying over the road. As fog becomes more intense, normal headlights will become too much as they give out light a little too high and this is reflected off the fog which makes it harder to see where we’re going. Front fog lights are designed to shine light directly onto the ground and illuminate the road surface underneath the fog layer. The top of the beam is sharply cut off to prevent any light from causing glare as a result of reflection by fog. Fog lights are often mounted significantly lower than normal headlights, this is also to target the road and reduce glare.
It's the law for cars to have a rear fog light, however not all cars will have front fog lights. Some modern cars are designed so that the daylight running lights can be used to navigate through fog as well.
Preparation
Lots can be done to prevent problems caused by fog! Preparation is important, whether your car is modern or classic, fog and mist poses threats to both and it’s good practise to make sure that everything is in correct working order before you commit to a long road trip or holiday in your camper. Overall, it’s best to avoid driving in foggy conditions, but sometimes you can’t help it or it’s unexpected.
Image credit to Annie Spratt, via Unsplash
Classic Cars in fog:
It’s important to check that the lights on your vehicle are suitable for driving in fog, if there’s risk of you needing to use your classic in these conditions. Some bulbs may struggle, or maybe even blow on route to where you’re going and this can be very dangerous, especially in fog. In case this happens, it’s good procedure to ensure you’re equipped with spares. Keep a little toolbox somewhere safe and fill it with important bits before your trip and this will keep you out of trouble.
Make sure that you check the quality of your brakes, if you know you’ll have to be making trips in your classic in the autumn/winter months. Unfortunately older braking systems tend to be less intense and can result in a longer stopping distance when an emergency stop is required. By checking the status of your brakes, this ensures the safety of yourself and others on the road. Fog increases the risk of you spotting stationary cars up ahead and other hazards, so ensure your brakes are in working order and when on your journey, be sure to travel slower. This will make sure that everyone is safe!
Modern vehicles in fog:
It’s said that the majority of drivers now leave their lights on automatic, and they will rely on their car to do the work for them. This is all well and good, they are incredibly handy to have but unfortunately this doesn’t cover fog. When it’s foggy outside, the correct lights won’t be automatically selected as the sensors are there to detect the light level outside and not the texture of the air.
So be sure to know where and how to switch on your fog lights, when necessary, because if you were to have an accident in fog and not have your fog lights on, this could be a problem for your insurance. And as mentioned previously, be sure to remember to switch them off as the fog clears, or you could receive a fine!
Just Kampers Insurance
If you cover your vehicle with Just Kampers Insurance, then never fear. If the weather gets the better of your situation and you end up stuck, then JK Insurance will have your back!
JK Insurance customers get UK and European roadside assistance and home-start cover from just £42.00 for cars, £47.00 for vans, and £90.00 for campervans annually. Which means that we can rescue you rain, shine or fog if you break down and need a helping hand.
For more information on Just Kampers Insurance, please visit our website via this link.
