When To Use Your Fog Lights

August 23, 2021

Cars driving on a foggy road with headlights on, visibility limited.

If you've ever driven through a thick layer of fog, you should surely know NOT to use your vehicle's high beam headlights. You should avoid making this silly mistake because the headlights flash directly into the fog, reflecting the light right back in your face, making it more challenging to see. 


As the name implies, your car's fog lights are intended to be used so that you can see better while operating your vehicle through heavy fog, mist, snow, and even sand and dust. Fog lights are separate from regular headlights, which have high-beam and low-beam functions.


The difference in these lights is primarily their shape. Fog lights are bar-shaped and aimed sharply toward the ground, providing short-range clarity only just in front of your vehicle. By aiming downward, fog lights eliminate the glare caused by regular headlights, allowing you to see adequately in fog. By contrast, the usual high- and low-beam lights aim straight ahead, lighting up the road to a longer distance. 


It's crucial to note that, because fog lights provide luminosity for only a small distance in front of your vehicle, you should always move slowly when deploying them. However, you should know to do so in limited-visibility circumstances anyway.


If your vehicle isn't equipped with fog lights, we highly recommend using your low beams in rain, snow, or even fog to improve visibility. Low beams provide sufficient short-range visibility if you drive in the city at night, which is all you need in city driving.


Having damaged or insufficient headlights can be daunting when driving on wet or dark roads. Though vehicle lights aren't the first thing people think of for vehicle maintenance, we heavily rely on these lights to keep us and others on the road safe. If you encounter malfunctioning headlights (or fog lights), please have them diagnosed and fixed immediately. We welcome you to give us a call or visit Accomplished Auto today. 

5 Signs You’re Too Tired to Drive Safely | Accomplished Auto
January 30, 2026
Accomplished Auto in Concord, NH, explains five signs you are too tired to drive safely.
By clint January 29, 2026
Court Injunction Halts Repeal of NH Vehicle Inspections — Annual Safety Stickers Still Required in 2026
By clint January 21, 2026
Why a Properly Working Car Heater Is Essential for Comfort, Visibility, and Safety During New Hampshire’s Extreme Winter Cold
By clint January 15, 2026
How Severe Duty Driving Impacts Uber, Lyft & Delivery Vehicles in Concord, NH
By clint January 7, 2026
Understanding modern exhaust sensors, accurate diagnostics, and why proper testing saves you money
By clint January 7, 2026
This is a subtitle for your new post
Person using a wrench to work on a car battery in an engine bay. | Accomplished Automotive
October 31, 2025
Accomplished Auto in Concord, NH, explains how battery health plays a major role in reliable cold-weather starting.
Four worn black tires close up, with shallow grooves. | Accomplished Automotive
September 19, 2025
Accomplished Auto in Concord, NH, explains how to tell when your tires are worn beyond safe limits and why timely replacement is critical.
September 17, 2025
Looking for the best tires in Concord, NH? Accomplished Auto helps drivers in Concord, Pembroke, Bow, Hopkinton, and nearby towns choose all-season, all-weather, and winter tires for safe driving in New England.
August 29, 2025
Accomplished Auto in Concord, NH, explains when it’s time for a fuel injection and ignition system cleaning to restore performance.