Fog is a weather condition that can make driving extremely hazardous and around Christmas time 2016, there have been some nasty accidents resulting in loss of life and serious injuries, occuring in foggy conditions.
There were several multi vehicle pile ups in one day on the M5 motorway and a few days later, two coaches full of travellers swerved off the motorway and finished up on their sides in a field.
Very unpleasant and dangerous, probably caused by fog.
Could these tragic accidents have been avoided? Sitting here in my office, there is no way of knowing, but the police and Highways Agency, will draw their conclusions in due course.
As with all aspects of driving, it is possible to minimise the risk if the weather is foggy and some basic precautions can keep you safe out there.
Let's take a look at them.
- Look around before you start a journey! It will be obvious if it's foggy, so be ready.
If possible, cancel your journey and do something else. If you have to drive, allow time to check your lights and windscreen and give yourself more time for the journey.
When you are on the road, beware of fog patches, where the density of the fog is variable. It can go from being fairly clear to very dense in a few seconds, so avoid speeding up in the clear patches.
Warning
If the fog is very dense and you can see the rear lights of the vehicle in front of you,
You're probably too close to stop safely in an emergency!
It's crucial to see and be seen when it's foggy, so the use of your fog lights can be a safety bonus.
In daylight. If your visibility is reduced by fog, you must use your dipped headlights and / or front fog lights, as you'll be seen from a greater distance than just sidelights and they will not dazzle other drivers or pedestrians.
Resist using main beam headlights, as the beam will reflect back from the fog and dazzle you! You will be blinded by your own lights.
At dusk. Use dipped beams.
At night. In darkness you will probably rely on fog lights and dipped beams, perhaps alternating as the thickness of the fog varies.
Rear fog lights. Use them only if visibility is seriously reduced to less than 100 metres and remember to switch them off when visibility improves - it is the law.
Using different lights. Adjust and change your lights as the conditions change.
For example, if you are in a traffic queue, it would be a good thing to temporarily switch off your rear fog lights, to avoid dazzling the driver behind, as he knows that you are there.
Driving in fog. Poor visibility caused by fog makes driving difficult and is a strain on the eyes and your sense of anticipation is dangerously reduced.
It becomes much harder to judge speed and distance, vital considerations for safe driving, when outlines become blurred.
How can you deal with this?
- Slow down.
- Make sure you are able to stop in the distance you can see to be clear.
- Use your windscreen wipers.
- Use demisters, aircon, or heated windscreen to keep windows clear.
- Use all available lights to see and be seen.
Important considerations in fog.
- Resist overtaking. It might be a lot denser ahead.
- Remember to take extra care at junctions, especially when turning right.
- It's harder to see cycles, pedestrians and motorbikes in fog.
- Avoid driving on top of the centre line. A driver coming towards you might be doing the same.
- Park sensibly off road.
If you would like to know more about driving in fog and poor weather, or you would be interested in driving lessons in Gloucester with a friendly instructor, we have everything you need here at John Lowe Driving.
Call us on 01452313713.
Best Regards,
John Lowe.
