2010 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD: The Fog's Getting Thicker

I, for one, cannot stand rear fog lights. But the hatred largely stems from misuse by American drivers. Far too many people drive around with their foglights on all the time because it "looks cool", but then on some cars that also means you've got the rear foglight on. At best, they're extremely distracting, especially if you're following on a dark road, but some cars have them integrated into the brake lights, W210 ('96-'02) E-Class, for one. It makes it more difficult to catch the brake lights at a glance, and making driving more dangerous, not safer. They're pretty high on my automotive pet-peeve list, because of the misuse/overuse. And I agree, the brakelights do a fine job of telling me where the back of the other car is. Provided they remembered to turn their headlights on.

Can I get a vector, Victor?

This reminds me of lighted hitch covers. I drove behind a Mini this morning that had one. I don't know if the lens was broken or what, but it was incredibly bright at dawn and actually quite annoying to follow behind. OEM manufactured items are usually fine, but aftermarket lighting accessories can be poorly implemented and even dangerous (aftermarket HIDs, roof light bars, etc.)

"....and Leon is getting laaarger."

" I'm not convinced that rear foglights are all that necessary, though, since the standard taillights seem bright enough as they are. What do you think?"

In actual fog, the fog light on the back of my MINI made complete sense. It was far lower and brighter then anything else on the road. Its a logical safety measure.

I absolutely like having them.

however, given how many American drivers are too stupid even to understand to use their headlights in various low-light situations; it's not surprising many manufacturers don't give them to us.

I don't like Audi's design for operating fog lights. If you pull the light switch all the way (which most people do) it engages both the front AND the rear fogs. If you only pull halfway, it activates the front fogs only.

"however, given how many American drivers are too stupid even to understand to use their headlights in various low-light situations; it's not surprising many manufacturers don't give them to us."

+1000

It is cloudy in Sacramento today (for the past week actually) AND it is the law here in CA that one must use headlights in ANY condition that requires your wipers. But when I was coming home from work this morning (half day for me) I would say only half of drivers on the Cap Cities freeway (10 AM) had lights on. WTF? I started in the last year to pretty much have my lights on (driving lights as well) even in the day. I dont need the driving lights of course but I want people to have the best chance to see my Dark Slate Grey Dodge at any time. Why do you think that giant yellow school buses have the lights on? TO BE SEEN. I will take any advantage I can get.

What everyone else said. Probably a good idea, but they're annoyingly bright when it's nighttime and the weather is clear.

And stop calling me Shirley!

I think rear foglights are effective at making a car more visible in the fog, I just hate being blinded by them when there's no fog! Lots of drivers think "more is better" with their lights and run their fogs front and rear all the time...ugh.

Kramer : Steve, I want every light you can get poured onto that field!

( Dump truck dumps table lamps onto the runway )

+1 that US cars should be equipped with rear fog lamps. Also add me to the "really annoyed" crowd when people don't use them properly.

"I first discovered rear foglights in an older Audi A4. The rear foglights were automatically engaged when the front fogs were turned on. In our Volvo, you can select them independently."

I think you're mistaken, the rears probably turned on because you pulled the switch all the way out. They would never ever automatically engage when the fronts are on. In most EU countries it's illegal to drive with them on unless there is substantially reduced visibility from rain, snow, fog, smoke, etc. That said, there should be a separate switch (not incorporated with the headlight switch) so that people don't accidentally turn them on - most Americans that drive around with them on probably don't even realize it.

I witnessed rear fogs in action during snowfall with low visibility. I was behind a new E-class Benz and it looked like a very bright red light in the driver's side taillights, much brighter than standard tails. I thought it does help being noticed but only for fog. There is too many people who abuse their front fogs by leaving them on even when it's absolutely clear.

I have been in situations when rear fog lights were extremely helpful for me to see the car in front. Thick fog and fast pace. Try driving 50 mpg without being able to see the car in front...

My family has had six Audis over the last 15 years. All of them had rear fogs that could be activated independently, only after the front fogs were already turned on. To be clear, the rear fogs did not automatically illuminate when the front fogs were activated. You had to press a button (1998 A4) or turn/pull the knob (A6/Allroad) an additional notch to activate the rear fogs.

I think the 1998-2004 Audi A6 sedan/avant along with the 2001-2005 Allroad had the best rear fog set-up of any car in the world! Their dual rear fogs were mounted around the license plate in the trunk-lid, showing a clear separation from the tail-lamps.

As a result, it was very easy to distinguish between the brake-lamps illuminating apart from the already super-bright fogs that were lit up around the A6/Allroad's license plate area. Very distinctive at night-time! The only other car that has a clear separation of the fogs from the tail-lamps is the Mini Cooper with its fogs down below in the bumper.

My family currently has a 1998 A4 2.8Q sedan (driver's side illuminates only), a 2001 A6 2.8Q sedan (driver's side illuminates only), a 2004 Allroad 2.7T Q (both fogs illuminate) , and a 2007 A6 3.2Q sedan (both fogs illuminate).

Of all four, the Allroad looks the best with its rear fogs illuminated! We tend to drive with our rear fogs illuminated at night-time and always in bad weather. The extra visibility can't hurt and it keeps drivers off our bumper since we tend to coast a lot, especially when approaching red traffic lights. What's the hurry - it's a red light? Ease off the gas pedal!

@ jbest05:

What I usually do if I encounter a "helpful" person like you who likes to blind me with their rear fog lights on a clear night, I put my high beams on for the whole time I have to drive behind you, so you get to experience how annoying your behavior is.

There is a place and time when rear fog lights are extremely helpful, namely in the poorest of weather conditions. I have driven in fog so thick, that the only thing I saw from the car 50 yards in front of me was the rear fog light.
But aside from weather conditions this bad, rear fog lights should not be turned on. They are very irritating and blinding to the driver behind you.
I would applaud any cop who gives a ticket to someone who drives with their rear fog lights on on a clear night.

Part of the debacle is that people do not read their owners manual... cough... IL staff.... cough...

My only problem with these fog lights is that I've never met anyone who knows they have them and they just end up driving with them on all the time.

Is that what the funny rocker switch does in my Father-in-law's 1993 Volvo 940 turbo wagon? I kept checking the front for a change in the different positions...it must have been a rear fog light. Interesting.

Glad you figured it out. Based on the icons someone could be forgiven for guessing that one button was for the right light and one was for the left.
I think I prefer the rear and front foglights being toggled by a single button. This reduces clutter on the dash, makes it less likely that front and/or rear lights will be left on accidentally and requires a single push. There may be the rare time when you would want only front or rear but that's got to be pretty infrequent.

I agree with the comments for using the rear foglights correctly. With the newer Audis like my A6Q with auto headlights, you cannot engage fog lights (front or rear) unless you switch the lights out of the auto mode to the headlight mode. I've only used the rear fogs on my A6 twice in the 2 years I've owned it and those were extremely foggy conditions where the greater visibility was a necessity.

I see the more utilitarian use in Europe on the autobahn during inclement weather as their standard speeds are quite a bit higher than here and allows for better visibility.