Extreme weather conditions like heavy rain, snow, hailstorms, extreme sunlight, fog etc are a major hindrance and a danger to drivers for various reasons. Heavy rain can make your tires lose traction, snow can make you stuck in them, and harsh sunlight can increase the chances of a tire blowout and the vehicle’s overall temperature. Similarly, fog can severely limit the vision around you. For this reason, it is dangerous to drive around in fog without knowing proper safety measures and guidelines. Here are the listed measures to reduce the chances of an accident and drive in the fog safely:
Pay attention
Always focus on the road regardless of the weather conditions. Since you are driving in the fog, you need to be extra careful. Check your mirrors and blind spots regularly to notice any unusual activities. Being attentive helps you to react calmly during uncertainties. You can notice if other drivers are trying to communicate with you —i.e., through light signals, hand gestures etc.
Reduce distractions
A good way to be attentive on the road is to reduce distractions. Humans are not built for multitasking and should focus only on one thing. This is true for driving as well. The consequences of getting distracted on the road can be severe. So avoid using your phone unless urgent. If you are driving with others, try to talk less. Also, turn off any music or radio playing in your car. Foggy weather dampens and distorts the sound, making it difficult to hear any horns or warnings. Additionally, you can also roll down your windows to hear sounds from the traffic easily.
Use fog lights and low beam lights
Light sources help us drive properly in the dark and in foggy weather too. Use your vehicle’s low beam lights to navigate the road properly. Low beam lights are tilted downwards, so it is a great way to light up the road. However, don’t use high beams as they point directly forward and may blind the oncoming traffic. They reflect from water droplets in fog and can bounce back to you, making your vision even worse. Finally, utilize your vehicle’s fog lights. Fog lights are primarily used for making you visible to other drivers than illuminating the road. Don’t forget to turn them off once the fog clears up. Since your rear fog lights are brighter than your rear taillights, vehicles behind you might not see the brake signal and collide with you.
Use windshield wipers and defroster
Moisture will build upon your windshield and severely obstruct your visibility after driving in the fog. Windshield wipers and defrosters are collectively used to clean up and prevent your windshield from fogging up. A clear windshield allows you to look at the road without any problems. Kindly protect the windshield wiper from the ice build-up and replenish the washer fluid regularly. If your windshield is frozen, scrape off the ice manually before running the wipers. You can also apply anti-fog on your windscreen to prevent your windshield from fogging up.
Reduce speed
Driving at a slower speed makes it much easier to react on the road. Additionally, fog can make the road wet and tires can lose traction at high speed. So sticking to a slower speed makes it safer. If the fog gets denser, switch to manual control from cruise control. Though cruise control automatically controls your car’s speed, manual control gives you better control during bad weather. You might be in a rush, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Stop driving if the fog gets too dense
What is the safest way to drive in the fog? It is – not to drive at all. You need to consider if it’s safe to continue driving in the fog. Fog can clear up or get too dense. If the fog gets too dense, make a sensible choice and stop driving. Slowly stop at the side of the road and wait for the clear weather. Also, turn on your hazard lights so other drivers can notice you from a certain distance. You may be confident in your driving, but when your low beams can’t light up the road sufficiently, it’s wise to wait for clear weather.
