Fog may seem harmless when you are taking a stroll outside, but it can be a significant hazard to automobiles. In the U.S., fog causes over 38,700 vehicle crashes leading to 16,300 injuries and 600 deaths annually. Keep in mind the safety tips below to reduce your risk of injury in foggy weather.

• Slow down if you encounter fog. Give yourself extra time to reach your destination.

• Make yourself visible to others by turning on your fog lights. If you don’t have those, use your low beam headlights. Don’t use high beams since that causes glare which will decrease your visibility even more.

• It’s important to keep your distance from the vehicle in front of you in case there is a sudden stop.

• This next one sounds obvious, but fog can be disorienting and distracting! Be sure to stay in your lane by following the road lines with your eyes.

• If the fog is extremely dense, take the safe bet by pulling off the road with your hazard lights and coming to a complete stop. Pull into a parking lot if one is nearby.

• If stopping off to the side of the road, turn off all lights except your hazard lights. Make sure your tail lights are not illuminated to keep other drivers from running into you.

Try to memorize these tips next time you encounter heavy fog for a much safer driving experience. If dense fog is in the forecast, try and plan around it before hitting the road!

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Photo Courtesy of Pixabay.com

Tips for Driving in Fog