Sucky-to-the-Max (tm) US Lights

[Phil@isham-research.demon.co.uk (Phil Payne)]

In message <971022162556_644985429@emout16.mail.aol.com> RobtArnold@aol.com writes:

> I would like to confirm on the rear fog lamps. Are there single lamp lighted
> on the right side of the car or the left side in the UK? I noticed some cars
> like Jaguars have two lamps. In the mainland and on my car here in the US
> (with E-spec tail lamps) it's on the driver's side (left). If the UK specs
> are ont he right side then I'm thinking of ordering the right side assembly
> so that I can have two lamps lit rather than just one. it does get dense here
> time to time in LA. Yep, going up Mulholland Drive or along the coast during
> the fall, winter and spring.

The current European convention is a single lamp on the offside of the
vehicle.  I believe that dual lamps are illegal in some countries -
Holland, perhaps?

The reason is the human eye's response to brightness.  Tail lights are
typically 5w - brake lights are typically 21w, giving a very noticeable
jump in the perceived brightness of the rear lights when the brakes are
applied.  Rear fogs are as bright as brake lights - if they're used on
both sides of the vehicle, the 'startle effect' of brake lights is
eroded.  It's _MUCH_ safer to have a bright rear fog light on only
one side of the car.

--
 Phil Payne
 phil@isham-research.demon.co.uk
 Phone: +44 385302803  Fax: +44 1536723021  CIS: 100012,1660