Motorists are being warned that a simple mistake could lead to a £50 fine as Storm Amy approaches this weekend. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for wind, affecting a large area of west and south-west England, as well as the entire southern coast of England. This warning is in effect from 8pm on Sunday until 6pm on Monday.

Gusts of up to 60mph are expected along coasts and hills, with the potential for winds reaching 80mph in the most exposed areas. The windiest conditions are anticipated on Monday morning. The weather service has also predicted heavy downpours and isolated thunderstorms for Saturday.

Although the storm has not yet been officially named, it has been informally dubbed Amy by the public, marking the first storm name for the 2025/2026 season. As visibility may be severely impaired due to heavy rainfall, many drivers might be tempted to use their fog lights. However, they may not be aware that this could result in significant penalties.

Kazimieras Urbonas, a motoring specialist and Supplier Excellence Manager at European auto parts marketplace Ovoko, stated, "Police can fine you £50 for using fog lights incorrectly under the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations. Fog lights are incredibly bright and can blind oncoming drivers or mask your brake lights."

He emphasised the importance of understanding the regulations surrounding fog light usage. According to Highway Code Rules 226 and 236, fog lights should only be activated when visibility drops below 100 metres, which is approximately the length of a football pitch. Drivers must deactivate fog lights as soon as visibility improves, even if rain continues.

Urbonas added, "There are drivers with fog lights blazing in light drizzle, which is actually illegal and dangerous. If you can spot the vehicle ahead clearly, fog lights should be switched off."

Drivers Domain UK has also warned that misusing fog lights could lead to a £50 penalty. The website noted, "Driving in fog is never a pleasant experience as it limits your visibility and could be a worry if oncoming traffic cannot see your vehicle. All cars are fitted with at least one rear fog light; most cars will have front fog lights as standard."

While it is not a legal requirement to use fog lights, it is advisable to do so in heavy fog to ensure visibility. However, leaving fog lights on when visibility is normal can result in a fine, as dazzling fog lights can cause glare and accidents. The violation of using fog lights when visibility is not seriously reduced carries a £50 penalty.