Fog has been a problem to drivers this winter not only in Europe but also in parts of the Middle East. As fog is a rare occurrence in some countries, drivers are not accustomed to dealing with it. Some tend to use their high-beam headlights which reflect off the fog back to the vehicle, reducing visibility further.
The official advice from research firm J. D. Power is to slow down using the speedometer to regulate speed as fog masks the sensation of speed. Drivers need to rely on their low-beam headlights together with fog lights. These would illuminate the road ahead and make the vehicle more visible to other drivers. Do not rely on automatic lights as they may not come on in fog.
To add to safety, drivers need to take the right-hand edge of the road as their guide on the road instead of the central markings. Central lines would make the driver move closer to oncoming traffic with opposite-direction drivers also having trouble seeing where they are going.
Drivers should not stop on the road; drivers need to find a safe spot to pull over away from traffic. Drivers should not speed up to get away from a vehicle that is too close behind.
Other precautions include using wipers to keep front windscreens demisted to aid visibility. Drivers should not use the tail lights of the car in front for navigation as they can give a false sense of security. At junctions, drivers should wind down their windows and listen to approaching traffic.
Once fog is lifted, switch off fog lights as it is illegal in some countries to drive with fog lights on in good visibility as they dazzle other drivers.
Fog can be dangerous and can descend suddenly on open roads. Just over a week ago, a 20-car pile-up in freezing fog on the A40 road near Oxford, UK claimed the life of one driver and left dozen others injured with one woman fighting for her life.
Be careful in fog; a few precautions can save your life.
• Adel Murad is a senior motoring and business journalist, based in London.
Driving in fog
Driving in fog
