Those Damn Foglights - Finally some action

Hmmmm I think link should be http://tamworth.yourguide.com.au/home.asp or just click link text

and not before time either...I hope other state police are going to follow the same trend

This is a direct copy from the Victorian Road Safety (Vehicles) Regulations 1999
Schedule 8.

85. Daytime running lights

(1) A pair of daytime running lights may be fitted to a motor vehicle.

(2) A pair of daytime running lights fitted to a vehicle with 4 or more wheels must be fitted with the centre of each light--

(a) at least 600 millimetres from the centre of the other light; and

(b) not over 510 millimetres from the nearer side of the vehicle.

(3) However, a pair of daytime running lights fitted to a motor vehicle under 1300 millimetres wide may be fitted with the centre of each light not under 400 millimetres from the centre of the other light.

(4) When on, a daytime running light must--

(a) show a white or yellow light visible from the front of the vehicle; and

(b) not use over 25 watts power.

Note: The third edition ADRs only allow white daytime running lights.

(5) Daytime running lights must be wired so they are off when a headlight, except a headlight being used as a flashing signal, is on.

105. Front fog lights

(1) A pair of front fog lights may be fitted to a motor vehicle with 4 or more wheels.

(2) A pair of front fog lights, or a single front fog light, may be fitted to a motor cycle or trike.

(3) A pair of front fog lights fitted to a motor vehicle with 4 or more wheels must have the centre of each light not over 400 millimetres from the nearer side of the vehicle unless the centres of the lights are at least 600 millimetres apart.

(4) If the top of the front fog light is higher than the top of any low-beam headlight on the vehicle, the centre of the fog light must not be higher than the centre of the low-beam headlight.

(5) A front fog light must--

(a) when on--

(i) project white or yellow light in front of the vehicle; and

(ii) be a low-beam light; and

(b) be able to be operated independently of any headlight; and

(c) be fitted so the light from it does not reflect off the vehicle into the driver's eyes

About time!! They use of these lights has never been permitted unless it is in FOG! Its not hard to understand! Despite being aimed low they do throw light upwards (turn them off and on on a dark road to see the effects)and project a rearward red light with the same intensity as a BRAKE light. It is just as annoying to be following an offending vehicle as being followed. Lets drop the fashion statement and start supporting the police and do the right thing, turn the stupid thing s off unless there is FOG!

About time!! They use of these lights has never been permitted unless it is in FOG! Its not hard to understand! Despite being aimed low they do throw light upwards (turn them off and on on a dark road to see the effects)and project a rearward red light with the same intensity as a BRAKE light. It is just as annoying to be following an offending vehicle as being followed. Lets drop the fashion statement and start supporting the police and do the right thing, turn the stupid thing s off unless there is FOG!

Being but a simple lad...some one give me a simple answer to this question:

Are the regs posted above telling me that I CANNOT drive in the daytime with my 'normal' 'standard' headlights on? (NSW)

The lights which cause problems are NOT fog lights, they are auxilliary driving lights, despite what they might be called!
Fog lights, to be effective, must be made with a very tightly controlled beam cutoff so that no significant light is emitted above the cut off level because this is what causes reflected glare back to the driver. It also causes glare for oncomming drivers. They are intended to improve visibility of the road for the driver of the vehicle to which they are fitted.
In NSW you can use low beam headlights OR fog lights but not both, in conditions of poor visibility.

As has always been the case (at least here in Qld), but the Police do not 'police' it.

Therefore, d***heads abound with their 'look at me' fog lights blazing during perfectly sunny Queensland days, especially on SS's, HSV's, FPV's and XR's.

Would love to see them all get booked for it.

The important point here is probably the Wattage of the lights. The cars that are anoying seem to have globes much stronger than 25 W. You would think that the car makers are conforming with the existing regulations, so the owners must be adding non-conforming lights or changing the globes?

My Forester has these 'fog lights' fitted but the output is quite low and I have masked off about 2cms on the top of the lens! I only use them at night sometimes when the Roos are about - they give a marginal improvement in side light.

Some of the "ADR's" are pretty hard to explain - why do a lot of 4WD's have the standard wrap around rear lights blanked off and replaced with silly little lights set inside the bumper? A crazy 'backward improvement' !Subaru Forester
"size isn't everything"

This what I found after a quick search of the NSW REgs:

ROAD TRANSPORT (SAFETY AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT) (ROAD RULES) REGULATION 1999 - SECT 52

52 Interpretation

"fog light" means a light used to improve the illumination of the road in case of fog, snowfall, heavy rain or a dust storm.

ROAD TRANSPORT (SAFETY AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT) (ROAD RULES)

REGULATION 1999 - SECT 55

55 Lights on motor vehicles generally

(a) any fog light affixed to a motor vehicle on a road to be lighted except in fog, mist or under other atmospheric conditions that restrict visibility

Some additional information from the NSW Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 1999 - Notes:

Division 12 - Fog lights
113 Front fog lights

(1) A pair of front fog lights may be fitted to a motor vehicle with 4 or more wheels.
(2) A pair of front fog lights, or a single front fog light, may be fitted to a motor bike or trike.
(3) A pair of front fog lights fitted to a motor vehicle with 4 or more wheels must have the centre of each light not over 400 millimetres from the nearer side of the vehicle unless the centres of the lights are at least 600 millimetres apart.
(4) If the top of the front fog light is higher than the top of any low-beam headlight on the vehicle, the centre of the fog light must not be higher than the centre of the low-beam headlight.
(5) A front fog light must:
(a) when on:
(i) project white or yellow light in front of the vehicle, and
(ii) be a low-beam light, and
(b) be able to be operated independently of any headlight, and
(c) be fitted so the light from it does not reflect off the vehicle into the driver’s eyes.

114 Rear fog lights

(1) A vehicle may have fitted to its rear:
(a) a pair of rear fog lights, or
(b) 1 rear fog light fitted on, or to the right, of the centre of the vehicle.
(2) Subclause (1) (b) applies to a motor bike with an attached sidecar as if the sidecar were not attached.
(3) A rear fog light must:
(a) have its centre:
(i) not over 1.5 metres above ground level, and
(ii) at least 100 millimetres from the centre of a brake light, and
(b) when on, project red light behind the vehicle, and
(c) not use over 27 watts power, and
(d) be wired to a visible device in the vehicle that tells the driver that the rear fog light is operating.

I still want to make the point that if the lights dazzle oncoming drivers then they will not be effective as fog lights because they will cause light to be reflected back from the fog particles to the driver of the vehicle. Note also the NSW reg which says that they must be "low beam lights"
Lights which cause dazzle are driving lights and are covered by different regulations!

It is my understanding also that there are few vehicles fitted with daytime running lights which are used in Europe. I think an ADR for them is still being worked on.