You should make sure you are aware of fog light rules under the Highway Code.
Motorists have been issued a warning as an easy-to-make mistake could land them a £50 fine. Ahead of Storm Amy this weekend, drivers are reminded to only use their fog lights when absolutely necessary.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for wind, covering a large part of west and south west England and Wales as well as all of the southern coast of England from 8pm on Sunday to 6pm on Monday. The alert stretches from southern England along the west coast of the UK and up to around Manchester with gusts of up to 60mph expected around coasts and hills, according to the weather service.
Winds of up to 80mph are also possible in the most exposed locations with the windiest conditions expected on Monday morning, the Met Office said. Delays to transport are also likely, along with a small chance of injuries and danger to life from flying debris, the forecaster added.
Potentially heavy downpours and isolated thunderstorms are predicted for Saturday. Although this storm has not received an official name as of yet, people have dubbed it Amy as this is the first storm name set to be used for the 2025/2026 season.
As drivers risk having visibility severely reduced by torrential downpours, many might turn to using their fog lights, unaware they could face hefty fines. Kazimieras Urbonas, motoring expert and Supplier Excellence Manager at European auto parts marketplace Ovoko, said: “Police can fine you £50 for using fog lights incorrectly under the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations.
“Fog lights are incredibly bright and can blind oncoming drivers or mask your brake lights. With stopping distances doubling in wet weather, that split-second confusion could cause a serious accident.
“Fog lights can only be used when visibility drops below 100 metres, which is roughly the length of a football pitch. Yet, there are drivers with fog lights blazing in light drizzle, which is actually illegal and dangerous.”
According to Highway Code Rules 226 and 236, you must switch off fog lights when visibility improves, as they dazzle other drivers and can obscure your brake lights.
Kazimieras shared the key rules drivers are getting wrong:
- Only use fog lights when you cannot see more than 100 metres ahead
- Switch them off immediately when visibility improves – even if it’s still raining
- Never use fog lights in light drizzle, mist, or clear conditions
- Remember, if you can see the car in front clearly, fog lights should be off
Drivers Domain UK also warned that incorrectly using your fog lights could lead to a fine of £50. On the website it said: “Driving in fog is never a pleasant experience as it limits your visibility and could be a worry if oncoming traffic cannot see your vehicle. All cars are fitted with at least one rear fog light; most cars will have front fog lights as standard. It is not a legal requirement to use fog lights, but it is sensible to do so that other drivers can see you in heavy fog.
“It is important not to leave your fog lights on when visibility is normal, and doing so can land you in trouble with a £50 fine, as dazzling fog lights can cause glare and accidents.”
And on offencecode.co.uk, it warned that the following offence carries a fine of £50: “Use a Vehicle on a Road When the Front Fog Lamp(s) Were Used and [Visibility Not Seriously Reduced / Vehicle Parked].”
