As a driver, it’s important to prepare for poor weather conditions. While dense fog isn’t as common as other types of weather, it can be just as dangerous. Knowing what to do will help make sure you aren’t caught off-guard if the fog rolls in…
How-to Drive in Dense Fog: Key Considerations
Slow down and focus
Once you notice some dense fog coming in, you’ll want to start slowing down. Fog tends to drastically cut down on your visibility. Driving too fast will leave you little time to react to other drivers or other hazards by the time you finally see them. By slowing down, you’ll ensure that you have plenty of time to react to whatever pops up.
At the same time, you need to make sure you totally focus on the road ahead. Taking your eyes off the road even for a moment in the fog can prevent you from spotting a hazard. It’s helpful to turn down any music and silence your phone, so you can give the road all the attention it requires.
Roll your window down
Dense fog won’t make it harder for you to see what’s ahead on the road. You also will struggle to see what may be coming behind you. This can be a problem, especially if any emergency vehicles are approaching. You won’t want to hear the siren, but not see the lights until they’re right behind you.
Rolling your window down can help you hear what’s going on around you. Not only can you hear other cars, but you’ll better be aware of where emergency vehicles are coming from. This will let you get out of the way ahead of time without putting yourself and others at risk.
Use low beams
It can be tempting to put your high beams on when you’re driving in dense fog. After all, those are supposed to provide you with the brightest light possible. However, it can actually be pretty dangerous to use your high beams in this kind of situation.
The issue is that high beams can end up making it harder for you to see. This is because the fog will reflect the light all around. Now, not only will you struggle to see, but so will other drivers. Instead, using your low beams, or fog lights if your car has them, will be a much safer choice.