More than 38,000 vehicle crashes occur in fog each year, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Fog is most likely to occur at night or in the early morning, when the daily temperature is at its lowest.
As with all adverse weather conditions, driving slowly and increasing your following distance will help you react safely and quickly to whatever comes your way. Additionally, consider these safe driving tips specifically for foggy conditions:
- Use your lights. Turn on your low-beam headlights and fog lights. Be careful not to use your high-beam headlights, as these can cause glare and worsen visibility.
- Turn off cruise control. Stay in control of the vehicle so you can react quickly.
- Use the defroster and windshield wipers. It’s important to keep your view of the road clear and glare-free by reducing excess moisture on the windshield.
- Listen for other vehicles. If you’re experiencing poor visibility, consider rolling down the window to listen for approaching cars or emergency vehicles. Turn off the radio as well if it’s too loud or distracting.
- Avoid passing others. If your visibility is significantly reduced, avoid changing lanes or trying to pass other vehicles.
- Follow road markers. Use lane lines and reflectors to find your way through the fog. Focus on the solid, white line on the right-hand side of the road as a guide to avoid drifting into oncoming traffic or other lanes.
- Watch for wildlife. Most wildlife-vehicle collisions occur during the fall. In foggy conditions, animals—especially deer—may be more likely to enter roadways.
If the fog gets too dense, consider pulling over to a safe area by using your turn signal. Be sure to get off the road and onto the shoulder. Then, turn on your hazard lights.
Talk to Hodge, Hart & Schleifer today if you have questions about collision coverage or car accidents caused by limited visibility.