Can the fog lights increase visibility on a clear night?

[Chevrolet1]

On 1/18/2023 at 9:32 AM, Phantom 4D said:

My 2019 Sierra headlights are bright. When I use fog lights, they tend to light up the sides of the road and don't add much forward light. That is normal for OEM fogs. I agree with newdude, have the lights checked for proper adjustment. 

^ Same expeirence here with my 2019 LTZ. I turn them on for the exterior look more than anything.

[kickass audio]

I can't speak for the new T1 series but my 14 fogs would only light up the area behind where the light casts on the road for the normal low beams. It never shines that far in front of you when you have them on. I really only ever use them when it's really bad for visibility to try and have more lights in hopes of being seen on the road otherwise i never use them. I modded my headlights for bi-xenon projectors over the factory halogen reflectors and it helped a ton with light output but it doesn't shine that far down the road with the projectors, more it spreads the light across more so I can light up 4 lanes on the thruway with some light.

[silveradosid]

i think that GM actually did a decent job on my 2020 rst. are they great , no but a lot better than my 2014 which i did the same as kickass. the fog lights on the 2014 were much more functionable than my 2020. these fog light on the 2020 are just a joke, might look cool but they are junk. 

[MekhiSharp]

It's always a good move to increase visibility when you can, esp when cruisin' at night. Fog lights can defs help improve visibility in clear weather. They're designed for low-vis conditions, but they can also be used to increase vis for clear conditions. They can help by projecting a wider, lower beam than the standard headlights, which can help light up a larger area ahead of the vehicle. This can help you spot potential hazards sooner, giving you more time to react. I'd also recommend considering adding some work lights to your Silverado. Work lights are designed to provide a bright, wide beam of light that can help light up a larger area ahead of the vehicle. This can be really helpful when cruisin' at night, regardless of the weather. They can help you spot potential hazards sooner, giving you more time to react. It's always a good move to be extra safe when driving at night.

Edited February 12, 2023 by MekhiSharp

[4banger]

On 1/18/2023 at 7:40 AM, Interleukin6 said:

Is there any way to improve the "DIM" stock LED headlights of LT (mine is 2022 LTD)? I am planning to add fog lights then use them every night (regardless of the weather), but many say fog lights don't play a role in clear weather. Can the fog lights on our Silverado increase driver visibility at night, especially in clear weather? 

all fogs do is draw your attention to the road right in front of your truck, I played this game, on the highway it's not good, they are only handy when snow blinds you or thick fog blinds you, upgrade your headlights or add something with a cut off that you can aim to same point down the road as your headlights and tie them together perhaps, I added some led pillar lights that are definitely not friendly to oncoming traffic at 11,088 additional lumens but they are tied into my high beams and used when alone on road at night, hunting fishing etc., I leave my regular lame yellow halogen headlights alone and just adjust to them when needed, they could likely be upgraded for better clear night visibility but actually prefer them when foggy or snowing hard, it's all about trade offs, too much light is scary when blizzard/fog rolls in thick

[redwngr]

Bright light close to your eyes prevents them from adjusting as well to the lighting in the distance. 

 

If you are standing in a room/garage/shed at night, with the lights interior lights on it's gonna be tough to see well in outside areas that don't have good lighting. Shut off the inside lights and the eyes will adjust and improve the ability to see stuff in the poor lit areas outside.

 

1) Don't use fog lights on clear night if the objective is to see better at the limits of the headlights.

 

2) Be sure to use the dimmer and turn down the brightness of the dash. 

 

 

Edited March 30, 2023 by redwngr

[Grumpy Bear]

I've been watching this thread. I hadn't paid much attention to what fogs did or didn't do for me on a clean night. So, I paid attention. 

 

My low beams go about 100 yards. Turn on the fogs and it adds light to the first 50 yards and nothing past that. A good deal of it to the ditches. That's 150 feet of super clearer vision. I drive on primary highways at night between 50 and 55 mph. At 50 mph that give me 146.6 feet of notice so a second to see and react and a second to slow and move. That's if I didn't see it in the first 50 yards the low beams lit it up or it came from the ditch late. Let's say I miss more small critters than I hit when they are on during a clear night. I try really hard to never out drive my vision or brakes. When I do, small critters suffer. Bigger critters make me suffer. 

[swathdiver]

I don't see as well anymore and run my fogs at night all the time.  I raised the beam a little on the fogs on both the Yukon and Sierra and can see so much better without having to use LED which blind me when they're coming at me, high or low.  They are not high enough to bother oncoming traffic.

 

I like the extra light on the sides of the road and think it helps close in as Grumpy mentions.  The two trucks use the same 55W bulb but the housing in the Sierra is twice the size.

 

Another thing, both of these trucks have new GM OE housings with factory bulbs.  They seem to me much brighter than using an aftermarket bright bulb.    

 

Now the third Sierra has all LED bulbs in the original housings and Morimoto fogs and a 20" LED light bar in the bumper and that truck turns night into day for a hundred yards in either direction when driving down country roads at night.

[ShortMag]

The headlights on my 19 at4 are real bright. I get flashed all the time by people thinking my hi beams are on

 

i also drive the last quarter mile to my farm gate early in the morning when going turkey hunting with just my fogs on. Borderline dangerous over 20 mph. Not much light at all