One of the worst things a rider wants to encounter when he heads out for an adventure is foggy weather and pitch-black roads. Riding at night through rural and mountainous areas of India has very less visibility, making it dangerous to navigate for the rider, and has been known to cause many fatal accidents.
It is a good idea to invest in good-quality fog lights that assist in increasing visibility. But one common question that every rider seems to have is, “Are white or yellow fog lights better for the road?” Everyone has a personal preference, and the people are divided between yellow and white.
Each fog light color has its own merits and demerits, and in this blog, we will discuss them to find out which one suits your needs.
A] A Brief Overview Of Fog Lights
Fog lights are installed on a bike to increase the rider’s visibility where there are no streetlights. They provide a wider and brighter illumination compared to headlights during dark nights, and can even filter through the fog directly in front of the rider. Fog lights work together with headlights to maximize visibility during nighttime and foggy weather.
Bike fog light should only be used when the visibility of the road ahead is less than 100 meters. Fog lights are very bright hence using them in natural light conditions can cause glare for the rider and the drivers approaching from the opposite direction, causing trouble on the road.
Fog lights are designed to provide increased visibility during nighttime on roads where there are no street lights and also work exceptionally well for fog, rain, and snow weather. A rider will usually experience such conditions when visiting a hill station on a motorcycle. Fog lights also help other drivers on the road to navigate their path and avoid hitting you.
Fog lights usually come in two primary colors, yellow and white. Let’s take a look at which is better yellow or white fog lights.
B] Overview of Yellow Fog Lights
Yellow fog lights help to navigate the road at night and in low visibility conditions without straining the rider’s eyes, making them a popular option. Yellow fog lights make the road more visible for the rider but also make the rider visible to other drivers and pedestrians, reducing the chance of a collision.
One of the benefits of yellow fog lights over white lights is their ability to cut through fog, rain, or snow more effectively. Yellow light has a warmer color temperature at 2000-3000 Kelvin, which is a lot more soothing to the eye. Yellow lights also have a longer wavelength as compared to white light. A longer wavelength also means that the light is easier to process by the human eye.
Yellow lights also cause minimum or no glare as compared to white lights, even when there are street lights present on a road. Being exposed to glare on the road can strain the rider’s eye and destabilize their focus affecting their balance and judgment. Yellow lights can help the riders to focus for long periods of time without fatigue, as it causes no glare, avoiding many accidents.
Recommended Yellow Fog Lights:
- HJG 7 Led White/Yellow Fog Light (70W) with yellow filter
- HJG Led 2 Oval Projector Fog Light – Yellow
C] Overview of White Fog Lights
White fog lights are just blue lights that have a very high amount of blue light in them, making the light appear white. White fog lights produce more heat than yellow lights, with a temperature of around 6000K, and have a shorter wavelength. A shorter wavelength means the light bounces more creating glare.
Even though white fog lights are less effective than yellow lights in fog, white lights are more versatile. They can also provide wider visibility on the dark corners of the road, ensuring a safe ride. The shortwave length that restricts white fog lights in dense fog, helps in better depth perception and colour recognition of signs and markings.
White fog lights are more aesthetically pleasing than yellow lights. White light is preferred by many riders as it makes their motorcycles look modern, aesthetic, and unique. The brighter light also makes the objects at a shorter distance stand out clearly. Unlike yellow lights, the object, sign, or markings reflected by white lights appear in their true color. White fog lights allow more depth perception and make any object stand out. The white lights are brighter, helping the rider navigate even in pitch-black conditions.
Recommended White Fog Lights:
D] Factors To Consider Before Purchasing A Fog Light
Consider the following factors to decide between white vs yellow fog lights:
1. Stress On The Eyes
Some colors are more stressful on the eye than others and this can be an important factor while driving. White lights which have more concentration of blue in them are known as cool colours and are more stressful on the eyes as compared to warm colours like yellow. Here the terms cool colours and warm colours refer to the colour scheme and not the temperature produced by the colour
2. Glare
Glare is the light reflected by the fog and water on the driver’s eye. Too much glare can disrupt the rider’s focus and be a distraction. This can be detrimental to motorcycle safety in low visibility conditions at night. According to riders, white light produces more glare as compared to yellow light.
3. Aesthetic Appeal
White lights are popular among bike riders for their aesthetic look. White lights give a simplistic look to the motorcycle that yellow lights don’t, making the bike look modern and elegant. When integrated with any new or even older models of motorcycles, white lights can instantly make them stand out.
4. Bulb Heating And Cooling
Yellow and white lights have different temperatures and white light is significantly hotter than yellow. You should check for cooling features for fog lights before buying. Some lights get damaged when exposed to extreme heat for a long time.
E] Yellow Fog Lights Vs White Fog Lights: Advantages
1. Advantages Of Yellow Fog Light
- Human eyes absorb yellow light better than white light, putting less stress on the rider.
- Helps to focus better on the road as it causes no glare
- Has a high wavelength which does not create many refractions
- Yellow lights cut through the fog better than white light
2. Advantages Of White Fog Light
- White light makes the bike look modern and beautiful.
- It is very versatile and can be used for rain and snow in addition to fog.
- Signs and markings are better visible at night.
Conclusion
Fog lights are essential for the rider’s safety and also the safety of others on the road. Ultimately, the answer to the question “What’s better yellow or white fog lights?” is dependent on the rider. Personal preferences, driving conditions, and legal regulations need to be considered before making a decision.
Consider all the factors and advantages of yellow and white lights explained in the blog to select the lights that suit your needs. Compare the safety, quality, and visibility of the lights to make an informed decision.
To find premium quality fog lights at amazing prices and deals, head over to Bikester Global Shop today!