Posted by Fog, that ground level cloud that can appear and disappear in a moment. It’s not quite as unpredictable as you may think, and if it’s forecast, you should be prepared for it.
I am in constant awe of the people who think that their fog lights are, in fact, some sort of Star Treky deflector shields. Pop them on and you’ll avoid any kind of incident no matter what speed and in what manner you care to drive.
I often see people on the low lying Somerset levels area of the M5 continuing to drive at 70 or above in fog. They put up their deflector shields and plough blindly into the fog under the strange illusion that these little lights will prevent them from running into the rear of a slow-moving HGV. Wrong.
There was a very serious fatal crash on the M42 over 20 years ago, and quite unbelievably we still have not learned. In that crash, three people were killed and 62 injured as drivers sped through the dense fog that blanketed stretches of the motorway, shortly after 6am on March 10, 1997.
So, what can you do to minimise the risks to yourself, your passengers and other road users?
Firstly, if fog is forecast, decide if you really need to make that journey. Just like snow, high winds, and freezing rain. The best way to stay safe is not to drive in those conditions. I obviously understand that for most people this is not an option.
Secondly, make sure that your car is prepared. Clean your lights and windows, front and rear, and that includes the inside of windows. Top up washer fluid, make sure your tyres are properly inflated and in good condition as well, as this can have a significant effect on your stopping distances.
Make sure that you are fit to drive, that you’re not tired and if you wear glasses, make sure that you have them. If you’re traveling with children, take the time to explain to them that you will need to concentrate more than usual and won’t appreciate being distracted.
If you do put fog lights on, use them only in fog, not heavy rain or spray because they increase dazzle in these conditions. They are there to let other road users see you a little earlier. It’s really important that you switch them off when you are in clear conditions because they are very off-putting for other drivers.
Lastly, make absolutely certain that you drive at an appropriate speed for the conditions. This means that you should be able to stop in a minimum of the distance that you can see, and better still, half the distance that you can see. Don’t forget that fog is incredibly disorientating and people do have crashes just because they become disorientated.
On a personal note here, I remember driving home one night in possibly some of the thickest fog I’d ever driven in and momentarily lost the white line in the centre of the road. Yes, it was so thick that the white line was all I could follow, and I was driving at about 15mph. When the white line reappeared I was on the right-hand side of it, so I instinctively swerved left because I thought I was on the wrong side of the road. I had in-fact drifted left to the edge of my carriageway and seen the white line marking the edge of the road, and as a consequence, drove onto the, fortunately, grassy verge. I was lucky that there wasn’t a ditch or wall there, or worse still a pedestrian walking at the side of the road.
So, next time you’re driving and you encounter fog, just think what could be lurking in that fog. Don’t think fog lights will protect you, and absolutely drive within your limits. It really might save your life.