Driving through fog is scary, but you can take it on with these easy tips.
Fog has a way of turning a simple drive into a nightmare in no time at all. Fogbanks tend to sneak up on you, and once you hit one, visibility is extremely low. They’re not quite as scary, though, if you know what to do.
Adjust your headlights
Do you know that you can adjust your headlights? The position the factory places them in isn’t your only choice, and it may not be the best one in a situation like fog. Make sure your headlights are pointing where you need them to go before you get into a foggy environment.
“If they are adjusted to point too high, they can light up the fog in front of you, making for almost whiteout conditions. High beams are probably not your friends in foggy conditions,” says race driver and high-performance driving instructor Ben Greisler.
Slow it down
Driving through fog is no time to test the speed of your vehicle. In the fog, other objects — including other vehicles — can show up out of nowhere. The denser the fog, the lower the visibility, so adjust your speed accordingly.
“Only drive at a speed at which you are capable of seeing a reasonable distance ahead,” says Greisler.
The thicker the fog, the slower you should go.
Watch the road
Thick fog makes it hard to keep moving in the right direction. Watching the road is the best way to avoid getting turned around or ending up in oncoming traffic.
“Keep an eye on the markings on the road so you don’t drift out of your lane,” says Greisler.
Be seen
Remember, just as you’re struggling to see others, they’re struggling to see you, too. Turn your headlights on, even in the daytime.
“If your car is equipped with a rear fog light, use it,” advises Greisler. “But remember to turn it off when out of the fog, as it can be bright and distracting to drivers behind you.”
Wait it out
If the fog is super thick, no number of precautions will make it safe to drive in.
“Pull over to a safe location to let the fog burn off if you feel it isn’t safe to drive in it,” says Greisler.
No one wants to be late to a destination, but it’s better to arrive late than not at all, right?
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