Road conditions: dealing with fog

Fogs and mists are much more common at some times of the year than others. Particularly in the mornings and in the Autumn time of the year, fog can be commonplace, but whenever it occurs it is potentially dangerous.

This is because fog reduces visibility, and anytime your visibility is impaired in some way it is potentially dangerous.

You have to concentrate extra hard and ensure that you pay extra special attention to the road and the placement and speed of other drivers too. If you are driving in fog, then consider whether your journey is necessary and if not then turn back and head home.

If the journey is absolutely necessary, then you have fog lights on your vehicle that you should use. Ensure that you leave plenty of room in front of you if you are following a vehicle in fog, not just because it might take you longer to react to what they do but there can be a domino where they are slow to react to the car in front of them who is in turn slow to react to the car in front of them etc - and that's part of the reason why multiple pile-ups are one of the most common types of accidents that happens in foggy weather.

When you are at a junction in fog it is suggested that you rely on other senses in addition to your eyes. Therefore turn off the music, wind down the window and listen for other vehicles. You might be surprised actually how useful hearing can be in general when driving although many just rely on their eyes; you can hear a vehicle without being able to see it and this can alert you to its presence; this is particularly useful in conditions where sight is compromised such as when it is foggy.

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