Fog lights are mainly used in vehicles to deal with low visibility during weather conditions such as fog, heavy rain, snow, dust, etc. If you are also thinking of installing it in your bike or any other vehicle, then first of all you must know the RTO rules related to it.
Here, we have discussed in detail about installing fog lights in India. By reading the article completely, you will get to know what the RTO rules are for this and if any person breaks them, what action can be taken against him or her. Therefore, read it completely so that you do not miss any important point related to it.
RTO Rules for Lights
Fog lights play a very important role in driving in low visibility conditions because all drivers know how difficult it is to drive when the visibility is low, but it is also important to understand that you cannot install fog lights in your vehicle just like that; there are some rules for this that are mandatory to be followed.
What are the RTO rules related to fog lights?
The RTO rules related to fog lights in India come under the Motor Vehicle Act of 1988; they are as follows:
- You do not need to obtain any kind of RTO approval to install fog lights in your vehicle; just keep in mind that the fog lights you are installing should be below the headlights in your vehicle. In the case of a bike, the position of the fog lights has to be set in such a way that there is no glare to other road users.
- It is also important to pay attention to the color of the fog lights that you are installing in the vehicle because only white and amber (yellow) fog lights are allowed. Apart from this, if you use any other color or combination of colors, it will be considered illegal, and if caught, action will be taken against you as per the rules.
- There are rules regarding how many and what type of fog lights you can use. Keep in mind that there can be a maximum of four front-facing lights, including headlights; indicators are not counted in this. Powerful or non-standard fog lights, if installed, which can dazzle or blind the drivers of oncoming vehicles, are considered illegal, and action is sure to be taken against their use.
Notes:
- Even if you install fog lights in your vehicle as per the regulations, it does not mean that you can use them anytime. They should only be used in dense fog, heavy rain and snow, dust storms, or when visibility is less than 100 meters. The headlights you use with the fog light should be low beam, not high beam, so as not to inconvenience the drivers of vehicles coming from the front, which can lead to accidents.
- If your vehicle has factory-fitted fog lights, then there is no problem, as the one you have got installed is following all the regulations, and if you are going to install aftermarket fog lights, then in this case you must check whether the light is ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) or AIS (Automotive Industry Standard) certified or not.
What if the RTO rules for fog lights in India are violated?
If you are found violating the RTO rules related to fog lights, then in this situation you can be fined, the details of which we have listed below.
- In case of improper or illegal lighting (wrong color, excessive brightness, misuse in clear weather), you will be fined ₹500. If you are found violating any of these rules again, then ₹1500.
- If you are found with illegal LED bars, roof-mounted spotlights, extra auxiliary lamps beyond the limit, or non-approved aftermarket fog lights, then in this case the challan amount can be from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 (for repeat offence), as this is considered an illegal modification under Section 52 of the MVA, 1998.
If you install fog lights in your vehicle by ignoring the RTO rules, then in this situation you will face difficulty in getting the fitness certificate, and it is possible that your insurance claim may also be rejected; hence, act wisely and install or get fog lights installed in your vehicle only by staying within the rules.
