Outbreaks of mist and fog are a common occurrence during the
British wintertime, but they can make driving conditions very challenging.
Reduced visibility causes hazardous conditions
and nervous drivers can compound the problem.
Here is some advice to help you stay safe when travelling in foggy
conditions:
Use your lights wisely
When driving in misty or foggy conditions you should use
dipped headlights – not full beam as this will impair your visibility
further.
You should only switch on your
fog lights if visibility is less than 100 metres and remember to switch them
back off again once visibility improves.
Drive at a speed you can comfortably stop at, given how far you can
see.
If visibility is really poor you
can wind down your windows at junctions to enable you to listen for traffic
that you might not be able to see.
Keep your windows clear
Damp, foggy conditions can cause your car windows to mist
up, which can further reduce your visibility.
Use your wipers, heater and air conditioning to clear the screens before
you drive off. Keeping your windows and
wing mirrors clean means they will be less likely to mist up, so this is one
good reason to clean your car regularly!
You’ll also find that fog causes moisture to sit on the
windscreen so you will need to clear this off with the wipers at regular
intervals. If the fog is freezing don’t
use your windscreen washers unless they have non-freezing washer fluid in or
your screen will ice over.
Be prepared
When driving in the fog it is best to assume a steady pace
as this will ensure you can slow down gradually, rather than suddenly which
could cause the car behind you to run into you.
Fog patches will be of varying densities so you need to be prepared to
slow down if the situation appears to be getting worse. Equally, you should increase your speed when
conditions improve, but only when the road has cleared significantly and it is
safe to do so.
Keep your eyes peeled
Extra caution needs to be taken when driving in foggy
conditions as pedestrians and cyclists may be extremely difficult to see. The best course of action is to slow down,
particularly in urban areas, to ensure you have time to stop.
Exercise caution on the Motorway
The movement of vehicles on busy roads such as motorways can
temporarily cause the fog to clear, or at least look like it is clearing. The driver at the front of the queue, however,
may be faced with dense fog, so don’t be in a rush to overtake as you may find
conditions are much worse further up the road.
Be seen when stopping
If you do have to stop, perhaps to wait for help to arrive,
make sure you and your car are visible to other road users. Put the car lights on, using hazards and
display a red triangle if you break down on roads other than the
motorways. Wear a high visibility jacket
as it will enable you to be seen by other motorists.
We hope the weather won’t be too harsh this winter but by
reading our tips you can be prepared and safe whatever the driving conditions.
If you are worried about how your car will
cope in the winter you can use our website to
find a reliable garage in your area
and book in for a Winter Check.
Posts
