We’ve just had the first thick fog of winter in Oxfordshire. Many drivers decided it would be a good idea to switch on their fog lights, unfortunately they appear not to have the ‘Foggiest Idea’ how to use them Every car I’ve seen has both the headlights and the fog lights switched on. In thick fog the headlight beam is reflected back by the fog causing dazzle to the driver. Fog lights, installed under the bumper, are much nearer the road have and have a flat-topped beam, therefore much less light is reflected back by the fog.

If you have both your headlights and fog lights on your simply increasing the dazzle you get.

I’ve tried asking some drivers the reason they do this and been told “I can’t see far enough ahead to drive on my fog lights alone”.

It’s therefore either 1) The fog’s not thick enough to make proper use of fog lights or 2) You’re driving too fast in fog.

Of course there’s always the ‘boy racer’ drivers who permanently drive with their fog lights on because it makes the car look sportier.

In wet weather the dazzle reflected from the road by these lights is a real hazard for oncoming traffic.

Perhaps it’s time for the police to clamp down on these drivers by issuing £30 fixed penalty notices for unnecessary dazzle.

Rod Attewell, Witney