MoneySuperMarket car insurance  warns drivers of fine that they might not see coming

Car insurance expert MoneySuperMarket is warning motorists about a little-known fog light rule that could leave their wallets £50 lighter.

While fog lights are an important safety feature, a new survey from MoneySuperMarket reveals that one in five drivers do not know the legal rules of fog light use.

Not knowing when or how to use fog lights leaves drivers at risk of falling foul of the Highway Code, often without realising it.

According to Rule 236 of the Highway Code: “You must not use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced as they dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights.”

According to a MoneySuperMarket’s new survey, one in three drivers think it’s acceptable to turn on their fog lights in ‘normal’ rain but turning your fog lights on too soon, forgetting to turn them off, or using them in the wrong weather could see drivers issued with a £50 fixed penalty notice.

Alicia Hempsted, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said, “Fog lights are designed for extreme conditions, so it’s important to use them only when visibility drops below 100 metres – roughly the length of a football pitch.

“Switching your fog lights on in light rain or clear conditions might seem helpful, but it can dazzle other drivers and increase the risk of an accident. It’s also easy to forget they’re on, especially if the weather improves mid-journey. Always double-check your lights before setting off and when conditions change.”

The Highway Code states that drivers should only turn on their fog lights when visibility has been reduced to less that 100m, roughly the size of a football pitch, and they should be turned off as soon as visibility improves.

This means that fog lights should not be used if visibility is generally good even if it’s rainy, misty or even snowy conditions.