Why do fog lamps turn off when high beam on?
Man, the vitriol spouted on both sides... Sheesh...
Yes, there are rational reasons and even laws that preclude combo Fogs and High-beams.
But at the same time, everyone needs to take a simple look at the cars approaching you along the road at night and count the lights. All those 4-light vehicles are NOT decked out with lightbars, nor are they frustrated Off-Road Racers. A very large percentage of vehicles are sold with fog-lights as standard or as a common option.
A large segment of the driving public USE their fog-lights regularly. Why ?? It's not rampant arrogance. Well, maybe a bit of it is... But, it's other things too.
People have become more aware of the effect of good lighting on their safety. (Just like acknowledging that more massive vehicles are generally safer leads to greater sales of SUVs even though fuel efficiency suffers.) Yet the actual "quality" of lighting patterns has been very hit-and-miss for years, as car designers work to fit headlight clusters to various aerodynamic and artistic design factors (and source parts from lowest bidder). There seem to be no standards, and no agreement on which lighting parameters are most important to strive for (brightness, distance, spread, coverage).
As well, nighttime driving lighting needs differ for individual usage. So many folks live in and drive nearly exclusively in cities and suburbs (with copious streetlights making headlights almost redundant), that this actually effects the weighting that designers use to justify their results. Then there are folks who live or drive far from the cities, where other factors are emphasised. Wildlife and road debris call for both lengthy beams and broad coverage - deer hiding just off the shoulder verges cannot be seen if headlight beams generate a "tunnel of light". They NEED some additional lateral lighting - which the fogs provide even at the expense of additional "less-controlled" light projected forward into the face of oncoming drivers.
Myself, while living in the 'burbs of a very large metropolis, I also do 1000's miles of driving through wildlife infested countryside. I feel that I really NEED the additional lateral lighting that is only provided on stock RAMs by use of the fog-lights. I forgo the high-beams in favor of the low-beam and fog-light combo because of that - even when driving highways and freeways. It's not enough to see reflectorized signs 3/4th mile down the straight, if I cannot see the deer that is daring to flinch into my path 50 yards ahead. Nor if I cannot tell which way the road twists as I come over a short rise.
It's the only recourse I have to the poor combination of compromises that Dodge engineers made on our headlight clusters. And I'll feel self-conscious about it - maybe even try to "down-aim" the fog-lights a bit. Or turn them off in-town or in high-traffic situations. But I'll choose my driving safety over courtesy to oncoming drivers.
Yes, there are rational reasons and even laws that preclude combo Fogs and High-beams.
But at the same time, everyone needs to take a simple look at the cars approaching you along the road at night and count the lights. All those 4-light vehicles are NOT decked out with lightbars, nor are they frustrated Off-Road Racers. A very large percentage of vehicles are sold with fog-lights as standard or as a common option.
A large segment of the driving public USE their fog-lights regularly. Why ?? It's not rampant arrogance. Well, maybe a bit of it is... But, it's other things too.
People have become more aware of the effect of good lighting on their safety. (Just like acknowledging that more massive vehicles are generally safer leads to greater sales of SUVs even though fuel efficiency suffers.) Yet the actual "quality" of lighting patterns has been very hit-and-miss for years, as car designers work to fit headlight clusters to various aerodynamic and artistic design factors (and source parts from lowest bidder). There seem to be no standards, and no agreement on which lighting parameters are most important to strive for (brightness, distance, spread, coverage).
As well, nighttime driving lighting needs differ for individual usage. So many folks live in and drive nearly exclusively in cities and suburbs (with copious streetlights making headlights almost redundant), that this actually effects the weighting that designers use to justify their results. Then there are folks who live or drive far from the cities, where other factors are emphasised. Wildlife and road debris call for both lengthy beams and broad coverage - deer hiding just off the shoulder verges cannot be seen if headlight beams generate a "tunnel of light". They NEED some additional lateral lighting - which the fogs provide even at the expense of additional "less-controlled" light projected forward into the face of oncoming drivers.
Myself, while living in the 'burbs of a very large metropolis, I also do 1000's miles of driving through wildlife infested countryside. I feel that I really NEED the additional lateral lighting that is only provided on stock RAMs by use of the fog-lights. I forgo the high-beams in favor of the low-beam and fog-light combo because of that - even when driving highways and freeways. It's not enough to see reflectorized signs 3/4th mile down the straight, if I cannot see the deer that is daring to flinch into my path 50 yards ahead. Nor if I cannot tell which way the road twists as I come over a short rise.
It's the only recourse I have to the poor combination of compromises that Dodge engineers made on our headlight clusters. And I'll feel self-conscious about it - maybe even try to "down-aim" the fog-lights a bit. Or turn them off in-town or in high-traffic situations. But I'll choose my driving safety over courtesy to oncoming drivers.
Last edited by seigell; Dec 11, 2009 at 12:38 PM.
I am convinced that some of you are blind, especially the ones driving in the real dark with high beams or lows with fogs....your choice,these lights are very bright and the truck is actually kind high for the headlights so I find fogs and lows are the best and yes I tested coming at it with a car and it's not as bad as some of the trucks and people using brighter bulbs and stuff. Wasn't one where I wanted to automatically get on the high beam switch to let em know. There is a condition people get as they age and not even that young sometimes where they have a tough time driving at night because of vision.
My father had a courier business and he got a run that paid huge money only required a small car(we leased a brand new Topaz 84 I believe it was) anyway myself and my sister and my wife did the trip since it was a middle of the night job 4 hours one way. My father could drive in the city at night but out on the highway in the dark he could not get lights bright enough so he paid us to do it and he still made money.
So maybe some of you guys should get your eyes tested, seriously, I do every 2 years like your supposed to.
My father had a courier business and he got a run that paid huge money only required a small car(we leased a brand new Topaz 84 I believe it was) anyway myself and my sister and my wife did the trip since it was a middle of the night job 4 hours one way. My father could drive in the city at night but out on the highway in the dark he could not get lights bright enough so he paid us to do it and he still made money.
So maybe some of you guys should get your eyes tested, seriously, I do every 2 years like your supposed to.
Wildlife and road debris call for both lengthy beams and broad coverage - deer hiding just off the shoulder verges cannot be seen if headlight beams generate a "tunnel of light". They NEED some additional lateral lighting - which the fogs provide even at the expense of additional "less-controlled" light projected forward into the face of oncoming drivers.
Myself, while living in the 'burbs of a very large metropolis, I also do 1000's miles of driving through wildlife infested countryside. I feel that I really NEED the additional lateral lighting that is only provided on stock RAMs by use of the fog-lights. I forgo the high-beams in favor of the low-beam and fog-light combo because of that - even when driving highways and freeways. It's not enough to see reflectorized signs 3/4th mile down the straight, if I cannot see the deer that is daring to flinch into my path 50 yards ahead. Nor if I cannot tell which way the road twists as I come over a short rise.
Myself, while living in the 'burbs of a very large metropolis, I also do 1000's miles of driving through wildlife infested countryside. I feel that I really NEED the additional lateral lighting that is only provided on stock RAMs by use of the fog-lights. I forgo the high-beams in favor of the low-beam and fog-light combo because of that - even when driving highways and freeways. It's not enough to see reflectorized signs 3/4th mile down the straight, if I cannot see the deer that is daring to flinch into my path 50 yards ahead. Nor if I cannot tell which way the road twists as I come over a short rise.
Here in Texas we have several areas where the deer are thick as theives and it's a very common sight to see dead deer on the side of the road. I've even managed to find a cow in the middle of a 70mph section of road one evening. And that was out in the country where there were no street lights at all. Now THAT was scarry as the cow had no intentions of moving out of the road.
This may be the most arrogant reply to a post I have ever read. It's not only for the oncoming traffic, but for those of us who are unfortunate enough to be in front of some one with fogs on in clear conditions. These are NOT driving lights. They are FOG lights. Learn the difference. One is absolutely worthless for driving other than illuminating the ditch on the side of the road (that would be the FOGS for those of you who did not pay attention in driving school). A set of driving lights on the other had CAN improve your ability to see down the road.
To the OP - for off road conditions - and off road only - a set of KCs would be the far better choice than attempting to use the fogs.
To the OP - for off road conditions - and off road only - a set of KCs would be the far better choice than attempting to use the fogs.
Last edited by ivaskaj; Dec 14, 2009 at 12:07 AM.
I think if the dealer changes the "country code" on your truck to something other than us or canada it opens up several more options on the starscan, such as fogs on with highbeams.
the mexico setting might work, or try one of the european settings.
These countries have less guidelines on lighting laws and restrictions.
for you guys in the U.S you might also be able to enable drl's if you choose.
Good luck.
the mexico setting might work, or try one of the european settings.
These countries have less guidelines on lighting laws and restrictions.
for you guys in the U.S you might also be able to enable drl's if you choose.
Good luck.



