6 Safety Tips for Driving in the Fog

Spring fog is nothing less than dangerous driving conditions for commuters. These cool evenings that turn into warm mornings bring fog advisory warnings from Environment Canada – warnings that are no small matter. No, it isn’t heavy snow, or heavy rains either, but heavy fog reduces visibility to near zero which makes driving difficult even for the most experienced of drivers.

Inclement weather can cause an increase risk in car accidents and many believe that an accident as a result of poor weather means no one is at fault. This is not necessarily the case. You are expected to drive according to the current weather conditions – so what does this mean for fog?

Of course, the best advice is to avoid driving during a fog advisory; however, this is not always possible. Fog can be very unpredictable and you may have already started your commute when you are hit with a wall of fog. Here are some safety tips for you should you ever find yourself driving in the fog.

6 Tips for driving in the fog

1. Slow down. Keep an eye on your speedometer. Pretty simple, a slower speed gives you more time to react to the traffic and road conditions. Stay back. Increasing your following distance will give you even more time to brake suddenly should you need to.
2. Use your defroster and wipers to keep your windshield clear.
3. Use your low beams. High beams reflect off of the moisture in the fog making it even more difficult to see. Use fog lights if you have them, in addition to your low beams.
4. Use the right edge of the road as a guide rather than the centre line.
5. Be very alert. Turn the radio down (or off) and look and listen for any possible hazards.
6. Be patient. Now is not the time for passing cars or giving in to any distractions!

If you are still having a lot of difficulty seeing with the low beams on, it is likely that the fog is just too dense to drive through, you should consider pulling over. Never stop on the road! Ensure that you can pull over slow and safe, pull the car insurance into a safe parking area, turn off your lights and turn on your emergency flashers (you should familiarize yourself with where these flashers are well in advance of ever needing them).

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