Foggy Driving Tips

Washington state is home to some of the cloudiest weather in the country, and with clouds comes fog. Dense fog is hazardous to drive in for the apparent fact that it inhibits road and traffic visibility. Before driving in foggy conditions, please take a moment to determine if your travels are necessary. If you can afford to stay home when dense fog is out, do so. If not, remember these few tips:

1) Get rid of distractions
Before you leave, turn your phone and stereo off or on silent, and place your cell phone somewhere you won't be trying to reach for it.

2) Slow down
In bad weather, it is always a good idea to reduce your speed and increase the following distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you. Lower visibility means less time to respond to situations around you. At slower speeds, we have more time to gain control and react appropriately.

3) Crack the window
Rolling the window down will enable you to hear traffic and emergency vehicles before you see them.

4) Use righthand reflectors and lines as a guide
Following the marking on the roadsides will ensure you know where your lane is.

5) Do NOT use cruise control
Cruise control will not give you the maximum amount of control over the vehicle, using it in low visibility is not recommended.

6) Turn on defroster and wipers
Using the windshield wipers and defroster will help reduce moisture in the vehicle and glare from the fog.

7) Drive with low beams & fog lights
High beams will only reflect off the fog and make visibility even less. Driving with low beams or fog lights will help oncoming traffic see you!

8) Increase following distance to 4 seconds
When situations arise, you will need the proper time to respond, giving yourself more space between vehicles will help.

9) Watch for animals and pedestrians
Many animals feel a bit more confident in being out in the cover of fog, making it extremely for you to see them and vice versa! As well, it will be hard to see people walking. Go slower and keep an eye out.

10) Properly use turning signals
        Use of turn signals is important in everyday driving, making sure others know what you plan to do before you do it. Using your tun signals properly in fog helps those around you see and prepare for what you are about to do.

If the fog is too thick, please pull over and wait for it to clear. Always make sure you are off the road and in a safe spot to park, so you don't get hit. Always be aware of your surroundings when driving and never risk it, your life is worth being here to experience, and so is everyone else's.