6 Tips for Driving in the Colorado Fog
As the weather cools down, Colorado drivers can expect an increase in fog formations. While certainly beautiful, fog can create extremely dangerous conditions on the road at any time of day. Knowing how to drive safely while in foggy weather is imperative to protecting yourself, your loved ones, and other drivers. Unfortunately, a large number of motorists don’t know the proper procedures for driving in fog. To help prevent accidents on Colorado roads, we’ve come up with a list of six great tips to follow.
Tip #1: Slow Down
Regardless of the posted speed limit or time of day, the safest way to operate a vehicle in foggy conditions is to slow down. Fog can significantly decrease visibility for you and other drivers, making it much more difficult for you to detect approaching vehicles and diminishing your time to react to cars on the road ahead. Taking things slowly will lower the chances of an accident related to limited sight distance.
Tip #2: Stick to Low-Beam Lights
Because fog usually makes things appear darker, your natural instinct may be to flip on your high-beam lights. Unfortunately, this will actually make visibility worse for you. This is because the high-beam lights are bounced off of the fog and reflected back at your vehicle. Low beams will minimize this type of reflection and help you see more easily.
Tip #3: …Unless You Have Fog Lights
Some vehicles are fortunate enough to be equipped with fog lights that are specially designed to operate in the fog (as you might have guessed). You may even have rear fog lights which help cars and trucks behind you to see you from a greater distance.
Tip #4: Let the Right Line Be Your Guide
If visibility is especially poor, you may need to make use of the white line on the right side of the road as a guide. Never use the center dividing line as a guide as this will cause your vehicle to naturally gravitate toward oncoming traffic.
Tip #5: Never Stop on the Road
In some cases, you may decide that it’s best for you to stop driving until the dense fog lifts. If you come to this conclusion, you should always pull completely off of the roadway and as far away from the road as you possibly can. Never stop on the road itself, as vehicles approaching from behind may not see you until it’s too late. Even pulling over to the shoulder can pose a hazard. If you absolutely must pull onto the shoulder, it’s best to turn off your lights. This is because, if your lights are left turned on, approaching motorists may assume that your vehicle is in motion and that they’re not following the lane properly, leading to the possibility of them veering right into you.
Tip #6: Keep an Eye Out for Pedestrians
Driving in the fog demands a great deal of focus and attention. If you become too fixated on watching for approaching vehicles or following the white line on the side of the road, you may fail to notice pedestrians crossing or walking alongside the road. Always stay alert and aware of pedestrians to avoid hitting someone.
In the event that you or a loved one is involved in an accident related to foggy conditions, it’s important that you hire legal representation right away. The team at Mintz Law Firm has a great deal of experience in these areas and we know what it takes to best present the facts of your case and ensure that you are well taken care of. Give us a call to schedule a free case evaluation today.