Fog is dangerous on the road
The fog It is one of the atmospheric phenomena that further reduce visibility on the highway. Like a heavy downpour, it can leave the driver with virtually no effective field of vision, with the obvious risks that the situation entails.
But with these keys, the risk will be kept at least to the minimum possible. Although there are times when, due to the high density of the fog, it is better to stop and wait for it to open up a bit. And autumn is one of the most prone seasons.
With everything, the fog, a accumulation of suspended water droplets in the air that does not allow you to see beyond a few tens or hundreds of meters, depending on its density, makes it one of the greatest dangers that appears on the road. We went from having good visibility to seeing practically nothing, with the consequent danger when it comes to locating other cars. Therefore, it is essential to remain calm and follow some basic advice.
what we have to know
For example, if visibility is reduced to 50 meters, the speed maximum should be 50 km/h and the safety distance of 50 meters. In this way we will be able to react safely to unforeseen braking, avoiding a rear-end collision.
Thus, one of the basic recommendations to overcome this meteorological phenomenon successfully is to have the car in perfect condition. With the fog, the pavement is wet and very slippery, so it is essential to have the tires in good condition to get them to grip well. But there are other important considerations.
Fog lights are essential
In this regard, we must know that to drive with low visibility, whether in fog, rain or at night, we must have fog lights on. Thus, in a car we can find fog lights both in the front and in the rear. While front fog lights are not required, the rear fog light yes it is.
The light intensity of the fog lights is greater than those of position, crossing or highway, hence they are specially designed for this climate. We just have to turn them on very specific cases since, if not, they can dazzle other drivers on the road. In fact, wearing the fog lights when you don’t have to or not wearing them is a serious offense that can lead to a sanction of up to 200 euro.
You can look at the lights of the car in front
Likewise, another additional trick is to always pay attention to the lines painted on the road and the lane lines, since being reflective they can be seen even in low visibility conditions.
It also does because they allow anticipate the layout of the road so that we are not surprised by curves or other unevenness. Given this, we can also choose to follow the lights of the car that precedes us, but never use the long ones.
Adapt speed to available visibility
Another important consideration, and one that will make us gain a lot on the road, is to adapt to what we are seeing. In other words: adapt speed to visibility available.
And it is that, if the fog is light and the driver still has sufficient perspective, just slow down and extend the safety distance proportionally to the loss of vision, to have reaction time and, if necessary, to be able to stop in the event of an unforeseen event.
If the mist is denser, on the other hand, extreme precautions must be taken and speed drastically reduced, because the moisture in suspension can behave like a solid wall and we will barely see a few meters.
Make sure you leave space with the car behind you
When it comes to low visibility situations, it is critical leave enough room to react. The more space you have to react to a hazard on the road, the better you can think of an action plan to avoid it.
Reaction times vary based on speed, distance, physical condition, and distractions. To avoid hitting the brakes and making sudden steering maneuvers, you must leave enough space between you and the vehicle in front of you.
A good rule of thumb is to leave a space of two to three vehicles between you and the vehicle ahead. This will give you enough time to react in case something happens. Another good rule to follow is the three second rule. Even as speed increases, the distance between you and the vehicle in front also remains.