After-market fog lamps may be the future for car imports

A turnover in the vehicle fleet will take at least five years, a road expert said.

ABU DHABI // Laws making fog lights a standard requirement should be retrospective, so that cars without factory-installed lamps will have to have them fitted.

“Otherwise, it will take at least five years for the vehicle fleet to turn over so that most vehicles are properly equipped,” said Glenn Havinoviski, a traffic-management expert in Abu Dhabi.

“The rear fog light is a bit of a rarer item since most of them are integrated with tail lights. But there are after-market models, which generally are mounted on or below the rear bumper.”

Fog lights play a more cosmetic role in the UAE, said Yolande Pineda, general manager of corporate communications for Nissan Middle East.

“Only a few companies have a specialised need for such fitments,” Ms Pineda said. “Daytime running lights are a standard feature in Europe but are increasingly becoming common due to their cosmetic benefits.”

Fog lamps are available across the Nissan range, as an option or standard.

Most of the latest Nissan models are pre-wired for fog lamps, which would be relatively easy to instal, Ms Pineda said.

“For older models, it might take more time,” she said.

Last year, the Ministry of Interior co-ordinated with the Emirates Standardisation and Metrology Authority to make fog lights mandatory on all vehicles.

But the more effective way to enhance safety, rather than making fog lamps standard, is taking into account local market conditions, Ms Pineda said.

“If it’s only applied in the UAE it may cost customers a lot because we cannot use common models among the GCC, as it will be out of GCC Standardisation Organisation requirements,” she said.

Many drivers often use fog lamps incorrectly, Ms Pineda said.

“In many instances, rear fog lamps are switched on in perfect weather, making it nearly impossible to look at the tail of that vehicle,” she said.

High-speed drivers who tailgate with their front fog lights on and then flash their high-beams are a cause for concern, said Mr Havinoviski.

“Drivers should use fog lights in fog along with their low beams, as high beams are not designed to cut through fog,” he said.