Safety tips: Driving during foggy conditions

Safety tips: Fog
Driving during foggy conditions

Fog can develop anywhere in the United States, and there are six types: radiational, advection, steam, upslope, precipitation, and freezing fog.

The most common type of fog is radiation or radiational fog. It forms at night and dawn when the sun’s energy ends and the temperature and dew point meet. Most of the time, the sky is clear, and if the ground is moist, it is easier for the clouds to form near the surface, becoming denser.

Fog can obstruct visibility, making driving particularly dangerous. Here are some tips to consider if you are driving and encountering foggy conditions.

Reduce your speed.

Limit distractions.

Do not use cruise control.

Use wipers and defrosters.

Use low beams (high beams reflect off the fog, worsening visibility).

Increase your distance from cars traveling ahead of you.

Beware of animals on the roads, like deer.

Do not use your emergency lights unless you are stopped safely on the side of the road. In many states, using your emergency lights while driving is illegal.

If you need to stop, pull away from the road and turn on your emergency lights.

How does fog form?read more

Irene Sans

More on the topic