When driving in fog, is it better to use high beams or low beams?

Using low beams when driving in fog is the best practice for several reasons. High beams shine a bright light that can reflect off the fog, rain, or snow, creating a glare that makes it harder to see. Instead, low beams illuminate the road directly in front of the vehicle, reducing the chance of reflective glare. This helps drivers maintain visibility and better gauge their surroundings in low-visibility conditions.

Additionally, low beams have a shorter projection distance, which is ideal for fog since it reduces the amount of light that is scattered back to the driver. This is crucial for maintaining focus on the road without being blinded by the light scattering off the water droplets in the fog.

Using fog lights, which are designed to shine a wide, low arc of light directly in front of the vehicle, can also be beneficial in very foggy conditions. However, relying solely on fog lights without low beams could diminish visibility further as fog lights are not sufficient for illumination at greater distances.

Thus, the use of low beams is the most effective option when navigating through foggy conditions, striking the right balance between visibility for the driver and reducing glare.