Driving in dense fog can be challenging and dangerous. The Sanger Police Department in Sanger, California has compiled some essential tips to help keep motorists safe while traversing California’s extensive roadways:
1. Minimize distractions by turning down the stereo, silencing phones and stowing them out of reach.
2. Reduce speed. Driving at a lower speed enables the driver to react safely to unseen obstacles.
3. Rolling down the car’s window allows the driver to listen for other automobiles and emergency vehicles.
4. Motorists should use roadside reflectors and fog lines to guide themselves through twists and turns.
5. Not engaging cruise control allows a driver to maintain maximum control of their vehicle.
6. Windshield wipers and defrosters limit excess moisture and reduce glare for better visibility in fog.
7. Drivers should use their low beam headlights and utilize fog lights if they are available on the car or truck. These two tips enhance visibility without reflecting off the fog and back at the driver.
8. Using the road edge as a guide lets drivers stay in their lane and avoid drifting.
9. Increasing following distance by extending the count distance to at least 5 seconds allows for proper response time.
10. Drivers should be vigilant for animals in the roadway. Animals may be bolder and harder to see in the fog.
11. By using turn signals early, motorists can signal their intentions sooner than usual in low visibility.
12. If needed, drivers should pull off away from the road and if possible, pull off where they can be seen, such as under a street lamp.
13. When stopped, drivers can alert others with hazard lights. However, hazards should not be used while driving in the fog.
“Headlights do not always come on automatically in the fog, nor do the taillights. You must manually turn them on. If you have to be out, make sure those lights are on, increase your following distance and slow down,” added Clark County Sheriff’s Office in Marshall, Illinois.
Doing these simple things can make a difference in arriving to a destination safely rather than not at all.
Diane Sieker can be reached by email at dsieker@reedermedia.com.
