Four Tips For Safe Driving In Foggy Conditions
Driving in foggy conditions is dangerous due to reduced visibility. Experience, skill, and a keen awareness of the surroundings are some of the things you need to drive safely in a fog. Specifically, you need to observe the following measures to maintain your safety on the road:
Know Which Lights to Use
Every motorist knows that they need to turn on their lights when driving in a fog, even during the day. However, most motorists don't know the right lights to use. For example, many drivers think they can see better in foggy situations when they activate their high-beam lights. Unfortunately, the reality is different because the fog reflects the light and makes driving even more difficult, which means low-beam light safer. Activating the fog lights (both rear and front), if your vehicle has any, will also help both you and other road users.
Slow Own to a Reasonable Speed
If you are driving in a fog, you need to forget about the legal speed limit and slow down to a reasonable and safe speed. This is necessary because, in a fog, you can't see too far ahead of you, which means you only have a short distance to stop in case of an emergency. Also, don't rely on the usual sensation of moving to tell whether you are driving at a safe speed; the sensation may be masked by the fog. Rather, monitor your speed at the speedometer.
Avoid Multitasking at All Costs
Multitasking while driving is dangerous at the best of times; it's even more dangerous in reduced visibility. Therefore, if you need to eat, put on a jacket or call someone, stop the car in a safe place first. Taking your eyes off the road for even a second can result in a fatal accident.
Don't Rely on the Center Line as a Guide
It's understandable that motorists need something to guide them while driving in foggy conditions. Some motorists use the center pavement marking as a guide, but this is dangerous because using the center line keeps you dangerously close to oncoming vehicles. It's much safer to use the line on the right side of the road as a guide.
Hopefully, the above tips will help keep you safe on the road even when the environment is foggy. If you do get involved in a crash, know that the weather will not be automatically to blame for the damages. Therefore, consult a legal office like Brownfield Law Office as soon as possible to protect your rights in the ensuing claims or lawsuits.