Rear Fog Lights PSA

[blueline]

Tech Tips article from this week's PCA e-Brake News regarding rear fog lights on Porsche.

https://www.pca.org/news/when-to-use-wh ... -tech-tips

I didn't realize that rear fog lights are required in the EU and UK but that's apparently the case, so Porsches shipped to the U.S. and Canada have them because of that European requirement. I imagine that's true for most or all Euro-built, North America bound vehicles.

I've never had cause to use mine and maybe never will but one never knows. I can see the potential for tremendous benefits if one were to encounter fog, torrential rain, thick snow swirls or similar on an interstate. The fog lights could aid in preventing being rear-ended and possibly even prove a life saver. Really bad conditions such as unexpected fog can appear suddenly - there are plenty of weather-related freeway pileup stories.

I was only semi-aware that there even was such a feature as rear fog lights on our Porsches, much less how to turn them on. Now I know. (Assuming I remember to use them...)

From 992 Owner's Manual p134:

992 rear fog lights p134 owners manual screenshot 2024-01-03.png (244.15 KiB) Viewed 896 times

From GT4 Owner's Manual p120:

718 GT4 rear fog lights p120 owners manual screenshot 2024-01-03.png (404.2 KiB) Viewed 896 times

[Arne2]

Rear fog lights have been required in Europe for decades, starting circa 1980. Many European manufacturers stripped that function off cars for North America, on the premises that a) they weren't required, and b) Americans didn't know when and when not to use them. As time has gone on, more cars are coming with them here as well.

As far as the argument about us not knowing when not to use them, if you have ever followed a car with the rear fog light on in clear weather, you'll know how distracting and glaring they can be. And the sad fact is, most people still don't even know they are turning them on, they just pull or or push or whatever switches they have to turn on the front fogs ('cause they think they are cooler looking that way) addend up with the rear on by accident.

[blueline]

Rear fog lights have been required in Europe for decades, starting circa 1980. Many European manufacturers stripped that function off cars for North America, on the premises that a) they weren't required, and b) Americans didn't know when and when not to use them. As time has gone on, more cars are coming with them here as well.

As far as the argument about us not knowing when not to use them, if you have ever followed a car with the rear fog light on in clear weather, you'll know how distracting and glaring they can be. And the sad fact is, most people still don't even know they are turning them on, they just pull or or push or whatever switches they have to turn on the front fogs ('cause they they they are cooler looking that way) addend up with the rear on by accident.

The downside! Good info too.

However, I can't recall that I've ever noticed them on a car I'm trailing behind, possibly because I didn't notice or because I don't stay behind any vehicle unless stuck in traffic or for other compelling reasons. However, I'll pay closer attention to rear lights and whether they are overly bright or not going forward. I'm curious what they look like.

At least I'm not guilty since I've never used the feature on any of my cars.

[J-Dub]

In many VW and BMW cars the rear fog is turned on by pulling out the headlight switch, one click for front fog lights and two clicks for front fog and rear fog light. Many drivers simply pull the switch through both positions without realizing the difference. In my R32 I added the European headlight switch and added the wire for the rear fog light, have never actually used it though other than testing it.