What Color Fog Lights Are Legal?

When the usual pleasant weather conditions suddenly change to foggy, rainy or snowy ones, it arises a necessity for higher ahead road visibility for the driver and other motorists to prevent any unpleasant events. Front and back fog lights were created to make driving in foggy, rainy and snowy weather safe and clear.

Fog light colors are usually white, amber and yellow. However, there are a lot of aftermarket colorful light options available such as green, orange, pink, red, blue etc. While these color varieties might sound like a good custom upgrade, they also can bring issues with local road patrol.

So let’s dive deep into the details of what color fog lights are legal and not, which fog light is better - white or yellow, what are the types of fog lights and when you should and should not use your fog lights.

Which Color Options of Fog Lights are Legal and Not?

Fog light can have several color types. However, not all of them are allowed in the states. Amber, white and yellow fog lights usually cause no issues.

Then the question arises: are other colored fog lights illegal?

Purple, pink, orange, green, red, blue fog lights are illegal in the vast majority of the USA, whether aftermarket or factory installed.

For example, in New Jersey, blue and red fog lights are only permitted for police and emergency services vehicles.

Some colored fog lights options can restrict areas they can be used. It relates green, pink, purple, orange, blue, red and other unusual color schemes.

As an example, a colored fog bulb is considered to be applied on a vehicle which is “a show car” or “made strictly for an offroad”. Driving with such a fog light with a filter or colored bulb elsewhere can lead to a fine.

Some drivers may think that colored fog lights are not only a good upgrade for a vehicle but have a less dazzling effect than yellow and white fog lights.

The illumination of colorful fog light options like pink, green, orange, purple etc, is too bright and may even have a higher glaring effect than white and yellow fog lights.

As a result, a car equipped with colored fog lights dazzles oncoming traffic even more than traditional ones.

Moreover, colored fog lights, the same as traditional white/yellow, also reflect in the rear mirrors of the vehicles blinding their drivers, which is not good.

In both cases, even slight blinding can lead to unexpected consequences, as the driver may not be capable of estimating the road situation in time and taking necessary action.
It is worth mentioning that ultra-powerful LED fog lights installed in the front are also out of the law because they have a highly dazzling effect.
It is advised to check if your fog lights have no legal issues because often occasions when fog lights are allowed in one state and prohibited from being used in another. If you have to commute from state to state often, knowing if your vehicle`s fog lights are allowed will save you time and help avoid issues with road patrol.

Which Fog Light Is Better: White or Yellow?

Both white and yellow fog lights have their advantages and disadvantages. Yellow light has a better penetrating scale and better far visibility during rain, snow or fog. A white fog light provides wider illumination of the area in front of the vehicle.

Below we will consider the advantages and disadvantages of yellow and white fog lights.

Yellow Fog Light Advantages

- Creates no strain on human eyes, resulting in better road concentration

- Improves the reaction of the driver, especially to oncoming vehicles

- Yellow light more effectively penetrates dense fog, rain or snow

Yellow Fog Light Disadvantages

- Yellow hue has a low illumination level of the road in comparison to white light

White Fog Light Advantages

- Extremely bright light with a high level of illumination.

- Great for dark areas with insufficient lighting or visibility, especially on corners.

White Fog Light Disadvantages

- White light strains eyes after constantly staring at it, which can decrease reaction and concentration.

- Too bright light creates insufficient clarity of the objects, especially with reflective surfaces.

What are the Types of Fog Lights?

There are two common types of fog lights: LED and halogen lights.

LED light has a higher white-blue Kelvin rate (up to 6500k) and brighter light which covers a larger area of vision. Led lights are considered to be reliable options. While LED costs more than a traditional halogen bulb, but its lifespan and performance compensate for the money spent.

Halogens are characterized by a lower Kelvin scale (3000k) and yellow light beam. Yellow light has a better reach and creates no reflection effect, especially in heavy rain or fog.

However, in comparison to the above-mentioned LED, halogen light has a less encompassing illumination level. Additionally, the lifespan of halogen fog lights is considerably lower than that of LEDs.

When Do Drivers Have to Turn On Fog Lights?

Both front and back fog lights were created to make driving the vehicle in harsh fog, rain or snow safer for drivers and other motorists on the road. A rule of thumb is to turn on your fog lights when the road visibility is 300 meters or less.

Often, some drivers forget to switch off their fog lights when the visibility comes to normal.

For example, vehicle A follows vehicle B, which has turned on the rear fog light despite the fact it can be noticeable from a distance of 1-2 miles. The negligence of vehicle B driver may seem harmless. However, it is not so. Suddenly vehicle B decreases speed by braking. Vehicle A driver is dazzled by vehicle B's rear fog lights and doesn't see stopping lights which can lead to an accident.

Every driver must be aware of turning off fog lights when the visibility is normal to prevent any issues on the road.

To Sum Up

Fog lights assist you in harsh weather conditions such as dense fog, rain or snow. Fog light can have many options, including various colored schemes like green, pink, purple, blue, red etc.

However, in most states, these options are considered illegal. Traditional white, yellow and amber fog light colors create no issues with the police while providing decent visibility in unfavorable weather conditions.

FAQs

Can you drive with fog lights only without switching low beams in dense fog, rain etc.?

No, you can't. In the USA, drivers should only use their fog lights with low beams turned ON. Such a requirement spreads to all 50 states.

Should fog lights be only yellow?

The concept behind fog lamps is that the upper portion of the beam should have a very sharp level cutoff. The fog lamps should then be slightly pointed downward, with the beam's upper portion.

The theory is that when a light beam hits the water, it will reflect downward rather than back into the driver's eyes. So color here doesn't really matter.

Is it legal to apply color filters to fog lights in the USA?

If your vehicle has incredibly bright pink, purple, green or other color fog lights, be prepared so local police can pull you over. You may be given a verbal warning or even a fine, depending on the case.

Are colored fog lights more hazardous for human eyes?

Yes, they are. For example, colorful green, pink, orange, red, blue and other lights contribute to faster eye fatigue due to more bright and annoying glow.