A new survey has revealed that a majority of UK drivers are misusing their fog lights.

Doing so means drivers risk fines, penalty points and endangering other road users.

The government is currently investigating headlight glare from modern vehicle headlights, but misuse and misalignment of lights also appear to be issues.

Mist opportunities

According to guidance from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), fog lights should only be used when visibility falls below 100 metres, roughly the length of a football pitch.

Despite this, new research by eBay found that 60% of drivers admit to switching on their fog lights at the wrong times.

More than one in ten drivers said they turn on their fog lights when visibility is still greater than 300 metres, a clear breach of the Highway Code.

Misuse of fog lights can result in a fine of up to £1,000 and three penalty points on a driving licence.

The research highlights a worrying lack of understanding around vehicle lighting.

Nearly half of drivers (48%) confessed to using full-beam headlights at night regardless of oncoming traffic, a habit that can cause dangerous glare and distraction for other motorists.

Get in line

Maintenance is another weak spot.

Just 15% of respondents said they check their fog lights monthly, while 24% admitted they have never checked them at all.

Poor maintenance contributes directly to road safety risks and to MOT test failures.

eBay’s analysis of DVSA MOT data between June 2024 and June 2025 found 4.3 million MOT failures were related to front and/or rear light faults, with around 31,000 failures specifically caused by fog light defects.

A spokesperson for eBay Motors said:

“Lighting faults and misuse don’t just risk fines — they put everyone on the road at risk. Checking your lights regularly, especially as winter sets in, should be part of every driver’s routine.”

The findings coincide with growing concern over headlight glare, according to the RAC’s latest research.

Of the 1,701 motorists surveyed, 38% reported feeling nervous about driving after dark, and among these, 75% attributed their concern to overly bright headlights.

The glare problem has become so widespread that one in four drivers (25%) who experience discomfort from bright headlights say they now drive less at night.

Another 22% said they would prefer to avoid night driving altogether, but cannot due to work or family commitments.

Light and dark

RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said the figures underline the importance of addressing headlight brightness and lighting misuse:

“Unfortunately, for a lot of drivers, the annual onset of darker evenings coincides with the unwelcome arrival of overly bright headlights that make driving more difficult. The fact headlight glare is the leading cause of nervousness on the road shows it’s a problem that needs tackling. At the same time, brighter headlights can improve visibility for the driver — so there’s a balance to be struck.”

As the clocks have now gone back, leading to darker evenings, and with winter weather setting in, experts are urging drivers to perform basic vehicle checks, ensure headlights are correctly aligned, understand when fog lights should be used, and dim full beams for oncoming traffic.

Regular maintenance and proper understanding of lighting rules will go a long way in keeping Britain’s roads safer.