Fog can sometimes strike with no warning while you’re driving. You come over a hill, the valley holds the moisture in the air, and you find yourself in a bank of fog. You need to know how to react quickly.
Unfortunately, people often make mistakes that lead to car accidents. Let’s look at a few of these potential errors.
Using their high beams
it seems natural to turn on the high beams when visibility is low. But this doesn’t help with fog because the high beams reflect off of the water droplets in the air. It actually makes it more difficult to see, so drivers should use fog lights or low beams.
Slowing down dramatically
It’s also natural to slow down when it gets more difficult to see. But if you cut your speed too drastically – and/or suddenly – you could be rear-ended by a vehicle behind you. If you can’t see very well ahead of your vehicle, remember that no one behind you can see your car, either.
Stopping in the travel lane
Similarly, when the fog is too bad, some drivers feel that it’s necessary to stop. If this is the only thing you can do to stay safe, it is a good idea. But you should never stop in the travel lane. Always find a safe place to move off of the road, such as pulling into a parking lot. Once again, you want to reduce the odds that you’ll be struck by a driver behind you.
Even if you avoid these critical mistakes, other drivers will still cause accidents while driving in the fog. If you suffer injuries, you need to know how to seek financial compensation.