When you get your driver's license and you begin to drive on the open road all by yourself you have a responsibility towards the other drivers on the road. Just as you expect them to abide by the traffic laws and be safe they are also expecting you to do the same.
All drivers have moments of driving that is not up to par, but for the majority of the time you should be an alert and conscious driver. In normal conditions it is easy to drive safely.
There are many times when you will be driving and you will experience adverse conditions. At times these conditions will require you to pull over but many times you will be needing to drive through these conditions.
Some of these adverse situations could be rain, snow, hail or even fog. Many people think that fog is the least serious of all of these problems and do not take it seriously when they are driving.
Fog can seriously impair a driver's vision. It is important that all drivers realize the effects that fog can have on them and that the drivers know what to do when they find themselves in a situation that requires them to drive in the fog.
Fog is most common during the spring and autumn months because of fog's meteorological traits. When you are going to be travelling in these months you should always look up a weather report and if it is foggy prepare yourself to drive in the fog safely.
There are many authorities in the automobile business that have consistently made the plea with drivers to slow down in the fog. This request needs to be heeded to avid the possible death of yourself or your passengers.
Driving in the fog is comparable to driving with a blindfold on. The fact that drivers are not able to see other cars or even the road they are driving on makes fog the most dangerous driving hazard.
The statistics concerning car accidents also backs this fact up. It needs to be understood that fog is deadly.
If the fog is so heavy that you feel like you cannot drive in it, pull off to the side of the road and wait for the fog to lift. Realizing that this is not always possible or practical, there are many other options that drivers have when they are faced with this kind of fog.
The first thing you need to do as you realize that the fog is getting heavy is to slow down. Although this may be frustrating it is important to know that if you are driving too fast in the fog you may be gambling with your life and the lives of others.
Gauge how far you can see and think about how quick you will be able to stop. You want to be going a safe speed that enables you to stop without rear ending someone.
There have been multiple studies that have shown that when drivers are driving in the fog they will begin to feel that they have acclimated and then increase their speed. To reduce the risk of this it is important that you keep an eye on the speedometer.
You do not want to turn off your headlights because your headlights are the way that oncoming traffic will recognize you in front of them. Even when the lights seem to be taking away from your vision instead of adding to it is always safer to have them on.
If your car is equipped with low lights of fog lights these are the lights that you will want to keep on. If you do not have these lights in your car just keep your regular headlights on.
Do not turn on your high beams. The high beams will direct their light into the fog making it even more difficult for you to see.
You will also want to be using the lines on the outside edge of your car to guide you through the fog. If you use the center line you will be more at risk for running into the oncoming traffic or getting distracted by their headlights.
If at any point you feel that you need to pull off of the road make sure that you are pulling off into a safe area. You will also want to make sure that you are pulled completely off of the road.
It is important to heed the safety signs that are placed on the highways. You may not know of conditions that the signs will make you aware of.
Author Resource:-
Tom Selwick has worked in construction for the past 20 years. He recommends construction signs for every construction job.
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