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[Closed] Who decided to use fog lights as indicators??

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I know there are many grumpy old men and women on here who quite rightly object to the mis-use of Car fog lights.

So, who decided that it would be a good idea when a car is indicating to turn right or left to also activate the corresponding fog light as well?? Seems like utter madness to me, adding more light into the faces of approaching cars and pedestrians sending out confusing signals or am I just missing the point??


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 9:31 pm
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Apparently its supposed to illuminate the corner you are turning into better.


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 9:33 pm
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Yeah, supposed to light up the corner you are going round better.

I was followed by an e-class Merc that had 'flashing' fog lights until I realised what was going on.


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 9:35 pm
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I have never heard of that. Are you sure?


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 9:35 pm
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Illegal unless the law has been changed - only amber lights are allowed to flash - not white or red ones.

Sure its not just a faulty earth?


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 9:35 pm
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They don't flash - they stay on for the duration of the turn.


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 9:36 pm
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The fog light doesn't flash it just stays on whilst the indicator is flashing


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 9:37 pm
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TJ,apparently the corresponding foglight comes on & stays on 'constant' until the relevant indicator cancels.I've seen a new Merc E class doing just that.

EDIT:oops,too slow.....(bit like my riding atm)


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 9:38 pm
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Page takes a while to load - but here you go:

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r171-slk-class/1420597-fog-lights-turn-steering-wheels-turns.html


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 9:38 pm
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Saw a new Golf today with the same set up as these uber clever seeing round corners Mercs!


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 9:40 pm
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Crikey hadnt heard of that one.


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 9:42 pm
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Ah - from the OP I thought they were flashing.


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 9:42 pm
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That Benzworld forum is worse than here - seen the responses the guy got....


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 9:44 pm
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I saw this in the States about 10 years ago, I thought it worked well.


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 9:44 pm
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Benzworld forum sure looks like a great place for info, or a complete slating for for being a complete numpty through no fault of you own!! Must be worth buying a merc just for the banter??


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 9:47 pm
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With that attitude you wouldn't be getting much help here in the future.

ha ha! they should try on here to see attitude 😉


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 9:49 pm
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could have a field day on that forum!


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 9:50 pm
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Perhaps the Benzworld forum is populated by banned stw'ers? 😉


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 9:58 pm
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It's not just Merc's, even our works Vauxhall has it. Supposed to light up the corner more clearly, it comes on automatically when you turn the wheel more than a certain amount when driving below a certain speed.


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 9:59 pm
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What next?? Will the Boot open automatically when a car comes within 50 yards of a Tesco at less than 30mph?


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 10:06 pm
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New Mondeo has it too


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 10:11 pm
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Did citroen not have lights that turned with the steering in the sixties?


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 10:11 pm
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Did citroen not have lights that turned with the steering in the sixties?

The old Citroen DS iirc,the 'full beam' lights did just that.


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 10:13 pm
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The Benz is the cheap version! The Vauxhall system (and others, I expect) is the proper one - it doesn't use the fogs, there is an extra lamp in the headlights and it points sideways. My car has it and it works brilliantly. Automatically disabled above about 20 mph so you don't accidentally wake up people in the middle lane on the motorway...

On tight bends on country lanes it's fab.

And for the real geeks... They (Vauxhall) are working on a system linked to 3D sat nav. It will raise the lamps when you're at the bottom of a dip to light the other side, and dip them at the top of a hill to stop dazzling drivers coming the other way. And they have a steel frame too for additional flex. Probably.


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 10:20 pm
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its supposed to illuminate the corner you are turning into better.

Wouldn't it be better for them to stay on all the time then ? ............ so that all your "corners" are nicely illuminated like.

Of course it would take away the, "I want want a Merc with those clever illuminated corners" gimmick.


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 10:25 pm
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The DS's lights actually "turned" into the corner following the cars steering. The newfangled "cornering lights" just go on and off.
The lights on a Mercedes only work at low speeds under 40KM/H and shine in the direction the car is going. When e.g. the wheels turn right and the car goes forward, the right foglight comes on. When the car is then stopped and put in reverse they change from right to left. Although it "sheds some light" on what you're doing it make you look like a real knob.

How I know this?

'cause I own a merc and had this "feature" switched off at the dealer. 😳


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 10:26 pm
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Fog lights have no doubt been done to death, but.........

(slating will ensue)

I like to use my front fogs. When I just have sidelights on, they make you more noticeable without the need for full headlights. And when using headlights, they simply illuminate your close up vision/peripherals better.

They don't dazzle oncoming drivers and I have no issue with approaching drivers using theirs.

Why folk feel they need to bang their rears on at the slightest hint of mist is beyond me though. Can you see the car in front? Yes, then I can bloody well see you from behind you numpty.


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 10:31 pm
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My Fiat Bravo has it too. I'm fed up with folk telling me I've only got one fog light working!

It also has another very annoying feature - If you're driving vigorously and you do a bit of heavy braking the hazard warning lights start to flash. It's very distracting and can really break one's concentration.

Two examples of EU tomfoolery.


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 10:35 pm
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I've seen the standard dim dips move as you turn on some new cars but not fog lamps!


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 10:39 pm
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TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR

using fog lights when it is not foggy - front or rear is illegal IIRC

My guess is that the ones on the merc are not fog lights but driving lights


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 10:45 pm
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TandemJeremy - Member
TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR

using fog lights when it is not foggy - front or rear is illegal IIRC

My guess is that the ones on the merc are not fog lights but driving lights

So is smoking weed, driving over the speed limit, riding bikes on footpaths, and up until the last decade or so shagging your missus up the arse.

Meh......


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 10:48 pm
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I see a flaw in these new fangled "see round corner lights".

What if you scandy flick it into the corner ? Can the lights react quickly enough ?

Oh and my Pug bleeps very annoyingly when you apply the handbrake at speed.

Yet more dumbing down of drivers abilities.

I shudder to think if this kind of unnecessary crap ever appears on MTB's.


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 10:55 pm
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and up until the last decade or so shagging your missus up the arse.

Well it might not be "technically" illegal, but I think that if you were caught, TJ would be well within his rights to deck you.


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 10:58 pm
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Lol ernie


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 11:00 pm
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*s****s*


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 11:01 pm
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My missus's Clio Sport has extra lights that looks round corners; they're braw. She's not as modern in relation to the other issue.


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 11:07 pm
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......when you apply the handbrake at speed.

Merc driving people don't do that sort of things very often sir. 😐


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 11:16 pm
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So is ... riding bikes on footpaths

No it's not.


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 11:23 pm
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So is ... riding bikes on footpaths

I think you needed to be more "specific" ArtistFormerlyKnownAs.

[i]It shall be unlawful for a person on a footpath or bridleway to remain mounted on a bicycle when passing or overtaking any person on foot, and a person contravening this subsection shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds.[/i]


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 11:30 pm
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Oh ffs

Pedants back in your corner - you got my point


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 11:34 pm
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you got my point

Well I did, but aracer is always on the ball - dontcha know ?

Well actually he doesn't seem to have been this time - I was expecting him to come back and hit me with something about the legislation having been repealed. And I was going to throw this at him :

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23416831-100-fines-for-lycra-louts-who-cycle-on-pavement.do

....but he seems to have fizzled out.


 
Posted : 22/01/2010 11:41 pm
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I was expecting him to come back and hit me with something about the legislation having been repealed.

Strangely I don't spend my whole time on STW correcting incorrect legal advice. Though I'm reasonably confident that legislation wasn't repealed because it was never passed into law in the first place, given it looks suspiciously like part of the proposed legislation from when we very nearly got a right of way to ride on footpaths (the giveaway is the mention of cycling of footpaths - I don't think you'll find that mentioned in any current legislation apart maybe from bylaws, since the assumption is that cyclists won't be there in the first place).

Of course your comeback is nothing to do with "footpaths", but then you knew that just as you knew your first example wasn't current law 😉


 
Posted : 23/01/2010 12:19 am
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Strangely I don't spend my whole time on STW correcting incorrect legal advice.

No of course not.

But would be fair to say that you spend a significant amount of your time correcting incorrect legal advice ?


 
Posted : 23/01/2010 12:44 am