Fog can be one of the most dangerous weather conditions for both new and experienced drivers. Fog has the potential to reduce visibility significantly, so it is critical that drivers stay focused on the road in order to stay safe.
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Severe weather demands your undivided attention, so be sure to reduce any possible distractions such as to fiddle with radio or phone, to keep your attention fully on the road. To keep safe, follow these tips for driving in fog:
Driving at normal speeds in fog can be extremely dangerous since visibility is severely affected. You cannot see where you are going, so use your speedometer as a guide to regulate your speed, because thick fog masks the sensation of speed by removing visual indicators of velocity.
Use Low-Beam Headlights
When visibility is restricted, a driver’s natural tendency is to activate the high-beam headlights. When driving in fog, this further impairs visibility because fog consists of tiny water droplets that spread and reflect the light. High-beam illumination reflects off of the fog and back at your vehicle which is even more dangerous. Driving on low-beam headlights will also help other drivers see you.
Use Fog Lights
Many vehicles have factory-installed fog lights. If your car is not equipped with fog lights, you can also get them installed from the market. These lights are usually mounted low, in or below the front bumper. They are aimed toward the ground out in front of the vehicle as far as possible. Fog lights mainly differ from standard headlights in the way they project the light.
Fog lights often have clear or yellow lenses, while the beam of light created by fog lights is usually wide and flat to stay close the road surface and minimize reflection back by fog and wider to better illuminate the sides of the road.
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Don’t Stop on the Road
When you cannot see where you are going, a natural reaction is to slow down or even stop. In fog, never stop on the middle of the road. Find a safe place to pull over that is as far away from traffic as possible.
It is also recommended to turn off your lights. Leaving your lights on may cause motorists to think that your taillights indicate the lane of travel, which may cause a collision. Turning on your hazard lights alerts other drivers of where you are.
Keep in mind that sometimes the best driving decision you can make is to stay off the road completely until the weather clears.