Safety is always a big concern when you're driving, and many automakers offer upgrades that can enhance your car's safety. Fog lamps are sometimes offered to car buyers. They are a good safety feature worth getting if your car isn't already equipped with them.

Function

Fog lamps are installed to make sure you can see where the road ends, the road markings and what is immediately in front of you when driving in bad weather.

Features

Fog lamps are usually small and circular and are installed underneath a car's normal headlights. They produce a wide beam of light with an abrupt horizontal cutoff. According to Daniel Stern Lighting, when used in combination with the car's headlights, the fog lamps will restore much of the visibility that the stormy or foggy weather takes away.

Expert Insight

Fog lamps are also very helpful when used without the headlights. Without the headlights, fog lamps will illuminate the foreground and the edges of the road only so you can see your way in the worst weather at reduced speeds.

Considerations

Factory-installed fog lamps, and many after-market fog lamps, are often too small and do not produce a wide enough beam to make a difference. If you want fog lamps, make sure to get some that are big enough for the job.

Warning

Do not purchase a fog lamp that has a xenon or high-intensity discharge (HID) bulb. According to Daniel Stern, blue lights are not suitable for fog lamps and should not be purchased for this task.

Source:

Daniel Stern