When driving on heavy rain, the vision was so bad that it was extremely bad. The rain hit the windshield and the road ahead became blurry. At this time, in order to make other vehicles notice themselves, many drivers will be confused about whether it is safer to turn on the double flash or fog lights. After all, no one wants anything to happen in such bad weather. Recently, IIHS conducted the latest experiment, revealing the difference in penetration of double flash and fog lamps on heavy rainy days, which may be different from what you usually think.
Driving vision is blocked on heavy rainy days, and the light warning effect is highlighted
During heavy rainy days, the rain is like a thick layer of curtains, covering the whole world. Whether it is the vehicles, pedestrians in front, or the signs on the roadside, it becomes difficult to see clearly. In this case, the vehicle's lighting plays a crucial role. It is like the driver's eyes in the darkness. It can not only help you see the road conditions ahead, but also allow other road users to discover their existence and avoid collision accidents.
Many drivers drive on heavy ra
When driving on heavy rain, the vision was so bad that it was extremely bad. The rain hit the windshield and the road ahead became blurry. At this time, in order to make other vehicles notice themselves, many drivers will be confused about whether it is safer to turn on the double flash or fog lights. After all, no one wants anything to happen in such bad weather. Recently, IIHS conducted the latest experiment, revealing the difference in penetration of double flash and fog lamps on heavy rainy days, which may be different from what you usually think.
Driving vision is blocked on heavy rainy days, and the light warning effect is highlighted
During heavy rainy days, the rain is like a thick layer of curtains, covering the whole world. Whether it is the vehicles, pedestrians in front, or the signs on the roadside, it becomes difficult to see clearly. In this case, the vehicle's lighting plays a crucial role. It is like the driver's eyes in the darkness. It can not only help you see the road conditions ahead, but also allow other road users to discover their existence and avoid collision accidents.
Many drivers drive on heavy rainy days, and their first reaction is to turn on the double flash. They felt that the double flashing lights were flashing and were particularly eye-catching, and they would definitely make the vehicles around them notice them. Moreover, when studying in some driving schools, the coach may have taught to turn on double flashes in bad weather. Therefore, double flash has become the "standard configuration" for many drivers on heavy rainy days. But some drivers believe that fog lights are the "magic weapon" for driving on heavy rainy days, because fog lights are designed to be used in low visibility, and their penetration is definitely stronger than double flash.
Performance and limitations of double flash lights in heavy rainy days
Double flash light, that is, the hazard alarm flash light, its main function is to remind the vehicle behind to avoid giving in when a vehicle fails, stops urgently or encounters other dangerous situations. On heavy rainy days, turning on the double flash can indeed attract the attention of other drivers to a certain extent. The flashing frequency of the double flashing light is relatively high, and it is easy to attract people's attention when flashing.
However, there are some limitations to the dual flash light. First of all, the color of the double flash light is usually yellow or red. Although it is more eye-catching, on heavy rainy days, the scattering of rain will disperse the light, resulting in a significant reduction in its penetration. Moreover, the illumination range of the double flash light is relatively limited. It mainly sends warning signals to the rear and side. For vehicles and pedestrians in front, the warning effect is relatively weak.
In addition, if many vehicles on the road turn on double flash, a kind of "light pollution" will be formed. Everyone is flashing, which will make it difficult for drivers to tell which car is really in danger and which car is just driving normally. In this way, the warning effect of the double flash light will be greatly reduced and may even play the opposite role.
Advantages and working principles of fog lamps in heavy rainy days
Fog lamps are divided into front fog lamps and rear fog lamps. The original design intention is to improve the recognition of the vehicle when visibility is low such as fog, rain, and snow. Front fog lights are generally installed at a position slightly lower in the front of the car than the headlights, while rear fog lights are installed at the rear of the car.
The reason why fog lights have advantages in heavy rainy days is because their working principle is different from that of double flash lights. Fog lamps use scattered light, and its beam is wider and more scattered, which can illuminate a larger area in front of the vehicle. Moreover, the light penetration of the fog lamp is very strong and can be clearly spread even in the thick rain curtain. The yellow light of the front fog lamp has good penetration in rain and fog, which can make it easier for vehicles and pedestrians in front to discover themselves; the red light of the rear fog lamp can form a clear warning signal behind, reminding the rear vehicle to maintain a safe distance.
In terms of brightness, the brightness of the fog lamp is also higher than that of the double flash lamp. It provides stronger lighting in bad weather, allowing drivers to see the road ahead more clearly. Moreover, the opening of the fog light will not affect the other lighting systems of the vehicle. Drivers can use low beams, width indicator lights, etc. at the same time to further improve driving safety.
IIHS latest experiment: Comparison of double flash and fog lamp penetration
This experiment of IIHS simulated the real scene of a rainy day, set different visibility conditions, and then tested the penetration of the double flash light and fog light respectively. The experimenters used professional instruments to measure the spread distance and intensity of the light, and also invited some volunteers as "observers" to observe the visibility of the double flash and fog lamps from different angles.
The experimental results show that in rainy rainy days with low visibility, the penetration of fog lamps is significantly better than that of double flash lamps. The front fog lights can be discovered by vehicles and pedestrians in front at a longer distance, and the rear fog lights can also allow the rear fog lights to notice the existence of vehicles in front at a further distance. Due to the influence of rainwater scattering and limited exposure range, the warning effect will be greatly reduced at long distances.
The feedback from the volunteers is also consistent with the experimental results. They generally say that on heavy rainy days, vehicles that turn on fog lights can be seen earlier, while vehicles that turn on only double flash lights often need to wait until the distance is relatively close. This shows that the actual warning effect of fog lamps on heavy rainy days is much better than that of double flash lamps.
Suggestions for correct use of lights on rainy days
According to the experimental results and actual situation of IIHS, it is very important to use the light correctly when driving on heavy rainy days. First, if the vehicle's fog lamp function is normal, the front and rear fog lamps should be turned on first. Front fog lights can help you see the road ahead, and at the same time, they can also let vehicles and pedestrians in front of you pay attention to you; rear fog lights can remind the rear fog lights to keep a safe distance to avoid rear-end collisions.
If the vehicle's fog lights fail or there are no fog lights, consider turning on the double flash lights in this case. But be careful that while turning on the double flash light, be sure to ensure that the vehicle's turn signal can be used normally. Because during driving, if you need to change lanes or turn, the function of the turn signal is very critical. If the double flashing lights and turn signals are flashing at the same time, it will make it difficult for other drivers to distinguish the vehicle's driving intentions and increase the risk of accidents.
In addition, whether you turn on the fog light or the double flash light, don’t forget to turn on the low beam light at the same time. Low beams can provide basic lighting to allow drivers to see the road ahead. Moreover, turning on the low beam can also make the vehicle more conspicuous on heavy rainy days and improve driving safety.
When driving on heavy rainy days, you can’t use the lights sloppy. IIHS experiments tell us that fog lamps have more advantages in penetration than double flash lamps. In heavy rainy days with low visibility, prioritizing the use of fog lamps can make us safer to drive. Of course, the correct use of lights is only one aspect of ensuring driving safety. Drivers should also pay attention to controlling the speed and maintaining a safe distance, so that they can travel safely on heavy rains.
