🚀 go-pugleaf

Daniel Ciobota wrote:
> 
> Aardwolf wrote:
> > No these are clear fog lights called "driving lights" by muddled advertising.
> > "driving lights" are extra-bright "pencil beams" that shine brighter,
> > farther down the road than brights, for use on very dark roads, or at high
> > speeds.  Since they are obviously even more blinding than brights they also
> > should never be used in traffic.
> 
> Actually, I think Wes is right. Those low mounted "driving lights" are
> usually adjusted so that they would never shine onto incoming traffic;
> that's why their beams are so tight and are mounted so low; the distance
> at which the field of the beam rises more than a foot or so above the
> road is far enough that they don't shine any more than regular driving
> lights. What often happens, though, is that most of these lights are not
> properly aligned to start with (the are few regulations that specify how
> to aim them properly). That's the main reason why they're so annoying.

Right--those low-mounted, supposedly low-aimed "driving lights" are 
actually clear fog lights.  They use a low-aimed diffuse beam to augment 
low-beams in the fog, by giving greater close-in visibility, and 
peripheral visibility in fog or mist or rain, by having a diffuse beam that 
doesn't "backscatter" against the fog and blind the driver using them (or 
other drivers).  It also helps other drivers see the car in the fog.  For 
maximum benefit amber systems are probably better, because amber light 
scatters less than white light, but the main factor is the lens, which 
provides a wide diffuse beam to prevent scatter.  And when I said 
"supposedly" I mean yes, you're right they shoud be low-aimed but many 
don't seem properly aligned.  The aftermarket bolt-on systems especailly 
are easilly knocked out of alignment. 

However, I restate; true driving lights are extra-high intensity beams 
used to augment brights when it is very dark or at very high speeds.  They 
shine even further down the road than brights, are more intense, and are 
aimed just a few degrees below the horizontal, and therefore are never 
supposed to be used in traffic.

Aardwolf.