This bad driving habit could cost you £1,000 this winter
Consumer Editor
A new survey has found that most drivers do not know how to use their fog lights correctly.
According to guidance from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), fog lights should only be switched on when visibility drops below 100 metres when driving on British roads.
Yet, research by eBay has found that 60% of drivers use their fog lights at the wrong times.
What's more, more than one in 10 say they switch on their fog lights when visibility is less than 300 metres.
This means drivers are risking of a fine of up to £1,000 and three penalty points on their driving licence.
Drivers who took part in the research also revealed a worrying trend when it came to the use of headlights, with 48% saying they activate full-beam headlights when it is dark, regardless of oncoming traffic and other road users.
Those who took part in the research said they do not stay on top of regular car maintenance when it comes to car fog lights, either.
Just 15% say they check them every month – and shockingly, 24% stated that they have never checked their fog lights.
eBay analysed data from the DVSA on MOT pass rates, and found that between June 2024 and June 2025, 4.3 million MOT failures relating to front and/or rear lights.
Further analysis revealed around 31,000 of those MOT failures were due to front or rear fog lights.
- Driving in the dark – tips on how to stay safe
- How to demist your windscreen
- Car lights and headlights – what are they and when do I use them?
This data from eBay follows the RAC’s latest research into dazzling headlight glare.
Of the 1,701 respondents who took part in the survey, 38% said they are nervous about driving in the dark, and 75% of this group said their fears were caused by bright headlights.
The issue is becoming such a concern that as many as one-in-four drivers (25%) who find headlights too bright are actually driving less as a result.
A further 22% say they wish they had the option to drive less at night, but don’t have another form of transport.
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said: “Unfortunately, for a lot of drivers the annual onset of darker evenings coincides with another unwelcome arrival – that of overly-bright headlights that they believe make driving more difficult due to dazzle and discomfort.
“While most of us have no choice other than to adapt to driving at night more often as the clocks go back, the fact headlight glare is the leading cause of nervousness underlines it’s a problem that needs tackling.
“At the same time, it’s important to remember that brighter headlights can give drivers a better view of the road ahead – so there’s a balance to be struck. “
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