Date:         Mon, 8 Jan 2001 19:22:41 EST
Reply-To:     JordanVw@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         JordanVw@AOL.COM
Subject:      fog lights vs driving lights...the answer.
Comments: To: poll7356@uidaho.edu
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

In a message dated 1/8/01 7:02:31 PM Eastern Standard Time,
poll7356@uidaho.edu writes:


> >   get the DRIVING lights, not the FOG lights.
> how come?>>


because DRIVING lights throw light like headlights. they have a minimally
fluted lens and a bright, clear light output - straight out and far ahead.
 FOG lights throw light in a wide fan pattern, illuminate the sides of the
road, but dont illuminate into the distance.  most people add auxillary
lights to try to remedy the piss-poor-performance of the DOT headlights.  if
youre trying to improve your long distance night vision, then get driving
lights.  if you want to see whats on the sides of the road, get fog lights.
BUT....
When you drive in DENSE FOG, do you find yourself flipping the hi beams on
and off, then settling on low beams because you can see better?
that's why they call FOG lights "fog" lights.  because the beam pattern is
wide, and angled down low. And most often FOG lights are AMBER colored, with
a heavily fluted lens, to displace light in the wide pattern.  the AMBER
colored light doesnt light up the water vapor in fog as much as the
hi-powered clear (white light) driving lights or regular headlights do.  so
its easier to see.

the conclusion:
DRIVING lights are for far ahead night vision in clear weather, they
supplement (or in VW's case, often outperform) the headlights.
FOG lights aid in night vision in foggy or rainy weather.

Good thing vanagons have wide front bumpers :<)

(ask Karl Bloss, he has a set of each on his '87 weekender)
chris

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