International Road Federation (IRF), a Geneva based global body working for better and safer roads worldwide has advocated for compulsory installation of front and rear fog lights in all the vehicles. The federation has said that these lights are especially needed in the fog prone and hilly areas in the country but since it is not possible to monitor all vehicles to ensure that only those with fog lights travel to Fog prone areas, therefore, it is necessary to provide them in all the vehicles.
The chairman of International Road Federation (IRF), K K Kapila said that research has shown that increased visibility between vehicles reduces crash risk by more than 30 percent, especially during fog months of December to February and in the mountainous areas.
He added that foggy conditions pose threat to motorists, and a law to make both research front and rear fog lights mandatory, could help reduce the risk of road crashes caused by poor visibility. Fog lights are extremely useful during conditions of poor visibility caused by rain, fog, dust or snow.
“Fog lights and automated vehicle lights that switch on due to poor natural light or fog, or during low-visibility conditions, could reduce the risk of collisions.
Presently, the motorists who want to be safe usually get an after-market front and rear fog lamp fitted on their vehicles. Such Fog lights emit a low beam, angled down at the road's surface preventing diffraction of the light. Whereas, in the normal headlight the broad beam of such a light passes through the water particles of the fog, reducing visibility for drivers” he said.
The chairman of IRF added that in Europe, the vehicles are fitted with front and rear fog lights as a standard feature for better visibility in fog like conditions.
He however said that installation of fog lights will not on its own eliminate the risk of crashes during foggy conditions and various other countermeasures are also needed for providing safer driving environment, by both the Government, drivers as well as the Civic Agencies.
"There should be warning signals or mobile weather stations on the road to alert drivers of fog conditions ahead advising them to slow down. The local radio stations could also help by broadcasting updated information on weather conditions, portable message sign boards at trouble/sensitive spots, installation of pavement inset lights, similar to runway lights, raised pavement and warning lights using flashing beacons are some complementing measures,’’ he quipped.
Kapila claimed that IRF has also stressed on the need for civic agencies to install smart sensor embedded street lights at identified fog trouble spots in city areas and highways to counter fog and save precious human lives.