How to Maintain a Safety Margin When Driving in Fog

There is no doubt that driving in foggy weather ispossibility that they think they can escape the fog
particularly challenging, with the visibility greatly reducedsooner if they go faster. Any of these scenarios can
the chances of having an accident certainly increases,contribute to major accidents. It is very important that
especially as not all drivers drive in a way appropriateyou keep your speed under control so that in the
to the prevailing conditions.event of a sudden stop you are able to have enough
If at all possible your trip should be postponed until thespace between your car and the one in front of you.
fog has lifted. However, should you need to take yourThe air temperature cooling lower than the dew point
car out on the road there are some tips that canbrings about the fog. You will find that many conditions
make your excursion safer.affect the density of the fog. They can be made up
Having a vehicle that is in good working order will beof atmospheric circumstances or the terrain.
invaluable to your journey. The windscreen should beTypical times and places to expect fog are normally
clean and the lights must be functioning properly. Thison cold winter mornings in low lying ground, valleys or
should include the fog lights on your car. If you havesignificant dips. Because the fog can change thickness
less than 100 metres visibility you will want to engageand in turn reduce visibility very quickly, you will
your fog lights. This not only enables you to see better,constantly need to reassess the conditions and tailor
but other vehicles will be aware of your presence asyour driving accordingly.
well. The use of your regular lights will be of no benefitOnce visibility improves to over 100 metres you will
to you at this time. They actually reflect the fog andneed to turn your fog lamps off. It is a driving law, and
limit your visibility even more.more other drivers could be distracted by the lamps. If
One of the main hazards that occurs when there isyou have rear fog lights you will need to turn them off,
foggy weather is that cars tend to follow each other aas they could be construed as your brake lights.
little too close. It may be from a sense of security thatWhile foggy weather does present more difficult
they are not the only car on the road or they may justdriving conditions, practicing safe driving techniques can
be driving too fast for the conditions. There is also thehelp you and others arrive safely at your destination.