Re: Fog Lamps

["Robin Samms" <striker@accessone.com>]

In response to Heather & Jeff hjr@buffnet.net

> > I'm talking fog lamps, WITH parking lights, AND Rear Fogs, AND rear
> > tails.  And the type of conditions I'm talking about are blizzard. 
Here
> > in the Lake Effect Snow Belt (250+"/season) we get regular whiteouts. 
> > Were talking 15 mph sometimes when you hope the tracks your squinting
to
> > follow don't go into the ditch 'cause you're going there too.  Until
> > you've been in this situation and tested "fogs only" vs "fogs with
lows"
> > will you understand that "fogs only" = SEE; "fogs with lows" = BLIND.
Al Powell <APOWELL@agcom.tamu.edu
Wrote
> Yes, I have been there - and under those specific conditions, I agree 
> with you.  I have been in unusual conditions in the Pacific Northwest 
> in which a very tight pattern fog light is much more effective than 
> headlights - in fact, headlights can scatter so badly that they 
> prevent one from seeing.  Fortunately, this is a VERY rare effect in 
> most areas - but not yours!

These conditions are a very common occurrence on the West Coast, in the
Winter months.

Earlier in this thread, there were several notes posted about the LAW in
several parts of the US  which apparantly requires fogs with lows.  The
conditions which REQUIRE fogs without lows for SURVIVAL as Al and Heather
and Jeff have described are fairly commonplace on the West coast, from B.C.
to California, particularly if you frequent the roads early in the morning
or late at night.  I remember trips between San Francisco and LA at night
during the winter months which were 5-15 MPH for 50 - 60 miles because of
the dense fog, lows make a really diffult task absolutely impossible in
these conditions.  I do not believe that there is any law in Washington,
Oregon, or California which requires fogs to only be on if lows are on. 

Neither Porsche nor BMW, which still mount their factory fog lights low,
(where they should be) require you to run low beams to turn on your fogs.
Porsche sells more cars in California than in all other states combined, so
I  have to believe that the lighting configuration they sell is legal.

I believe that just last year there were at least two major (20+) car &
semi pileups on I-5 in the Grapevine area outside of LA due to fog, and at
least one that I witnessed on I-405 between San Diego and LA last Summer
(where there were several deaths)

The current configuration of Audi lights, as on my S6, SUCKS.  Moving the
fogs up to the main headlight pod is a  marketing ripoff scheme to make the
parts department more profitable.  Restricting the use of the fogs to only
be combined with the lows begins to border on criminal negligence. 
 
Maybe Audi sells more cars in states where complete idiots have decreed
that fog lights should only be used with lows. The current light
configuration does not work in areas where fog lights are needed for life
threatening situations.
 
(close vents)

Robin
-----
Robin Samms
Seattle, WA
95? S6W