Just three drivers have been fined for illegally using fog lights in two years, sparking concerns that police resources are stretched too thin to properly enforce minor road rules.
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Using a car's fog lights in clear weather was made illegal in March 2010, with the government arguing they could blind other road users and cause accidents.
Drivers were allowed to use their fog lights in Canberra during yesterday morning's murky conditions but motoring groups are concerned that too many people are using them on clear days.
But figures released by ACT Policing show that just three drivers have been fined for using fog lights since the road rules were amended two years ago.
NRMA regional director Alan Evans said there were regular complaints about the use of fog lights on ACT roads.
''I spend a lot of time on the road and I see it regularly, people have got all these fog lights on, it creates a bit of confusion,'' he said.
Mr Evans said the failure to enforce the laws showed there were not enough police cars on the roads.
''They've got to see them to catch them,'' Mr Evans said
''The best way to make sure people are obeying the road rules is to have more highway patrol vehicles out there, and probably they haven't got them out there,'' he said.
The ACT government maintains the laws serve a useful purpose despite the small number of fines issued.
A Justice and Community Safety Directorate spokesman said the use of fog lights was ''particularly inconsiderate and dangerous'' and could result in car crashes.
''The fact that a particular offence is not committed or detected frequently does not mean that the relevant behaviour should not continue to constitute an offence, when it occurs,'' the spokesman said.
''The fact of the activity being an offence may, of itself, deter the offending behaviour,'' he said.
''ACT Policing is enforcing the law; it just may be that most people don't use their fog lights illegally.''
But Mr Evans said the number of motorists being issued with fines did not match the reality on Canberra's roads.
''It probably doesn't reflect what's actually happening out there,'' he said.
''I think it's more of a case of the fact that they haven't got the staff out there to catch them, because there is certainly more than that occurring.''
