The RAC has issued a stark warning to motorists across the UK, alerting them to a common winter driving error that could land them with a hefty fine of up to £1,000 and three penalty points on their licence.
The £1,000 Fog Light Mistake
According to official guidance from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), fog lights should only be used when visibility drops below 100 metres. However, new research commissioned by eBay reveals a troubling trend: as many as 60% of drivers are using their fog lights at the wrong times.
The study found that more than one in ten motorists switch on their fog lights when visibility is less than 300 metres, a practice that directly contravenes the Highway Code and puts them at risk of significant penalties.
What the Highway Code Says
Rule 236 of the Highway Code provides clear instructions on this matter. It states: “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. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves.”
The Code specifies that visibility is “seriously reduced” when you cannot see for more than 100 metres (328 feet). In these conditions, you may use your headlights along with front or rear fog lights, but they must be turned off once the situation improves.
Broader Issues with Vehicle Lighting
The research uncovered further concerns beyond fog light misuse. Nearly half of drivers (48%) admit to using full-beam headlights in the dark without consideration for oncoming traffic, contributing to the problem of headlight glare.
This issue is compounded by poor maintenance. eBay's analysis of DVSA MOT data from June 2024 to June 2025 found that 4.3 million MOT failures were related to front and/or rear lights, with approximately 31,000 specifically due to faulty front or rear fog lights.
These findings align with recent RAC research into headlight glare, which discovered that many drivers feel nervous about night driving due to overly bright headlights. In a survey of 1,701 respondents, a quarter of drivers who find headlights too bright reported driving less as a result, while a further 22% expressed a desire to drive less at night but lacked alternative transport options.
Campaigning for Change
The RAC has been actively campaigning alongside The College of Optometrists, IAM RoadSmart, and Baroness Hayter for an official investigation into the causes of headlight glare. This effort has led to the Government commissioning independent research, conducted by TRL, which is expected to be published soon.
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis commented: “Unfortunately, for a lot of drivers the annual onset of darker evenings coincides with another unwelcome arrival – that of overly-bright headlights that they believe make driving more difficult due to dazzle and discomfort.”
He added: “While most of us have no choice other than to adapt to driving at night more often as the clocks go back, the fact headlight glare is the leading cause of nervousness underlines it’s a problem that needs tackling. We look forward to the publication of the Government’s report and hope that it helps explain why so many drivers report struggling to cope with dazzling headlights.”
