Five Things To Know About Driving in the Fog

“It’s foggy, people! Headlights!”

So came a frantic message this morning on Facebook, at about 8 a.m., on a fog-filled morning in Greater Brandon on Feb. 15.

The number of people "who drive without lights in the fog is incredible," added the Facebook poster.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 7:22 a.m. issued a warning of near-zero visibility along Parsons Avenue near Martin Luther King Boulevard in the Greater Brandon area, heralding, too, that "other pockets of fog may also exist that can cause zero or limited visibility at a moment's notice."

Fog is defined on the Weather Channel’s Web site as “a cloud at ground level.”

“It forms when then temperature drops to the dew point (the temperature at which air is saturated) and invisible water vapor in the air condenses to form suspended water droplets.”

Pretty cool, except that fog “can reduce visibility to one-quarter mile or less, creating hazardous driving conditions,” the primer continues.

So, while the foggy commute is still fresh in our minds, here’s five tips to remember for driving in the fog when next it hits:

1. Drive with your lights in low beam. High beams will reflect back off the fog and, in turn, impair your visibility even more.
2. Reduce your speed and check the odometer. Fog creates a visual illusion and you might be driving faster than you think 
3. Crack the window to hear better. Listen more closely for the traffic that is harder to see.
4. Pilot your vehicle. Use the right edge of the road or painted road markings as your guide. Be patient and avoid the passing lane. Use wipers and defrosters as necessary to ensure maximum visibility under the circumstances.
5. In case of an emergency, be very, very careful. Avoid stopping on a freeway or heavily traveled road. If your car stalls or becomes disabled, turn off your vehicles lights and take your foot off the brake pedal. People tend to follow taillights when driving in fog. Move away from the vehicle to avoid injury.

Source:  The Weather Channel