In the latest of the Institute of Advanced Motorists' (IAM) weekly winter road tips, the man the group calls Britain's top advanced driver Peter Rodger is advising motorists on how to drive safely through fog.
He said: "Fog is one of the most difficult conditions to drive in – crashes in fog make the news headlines often enough to remember them. Ensure you are prepared so that you can carry out your journey safely. Allow lots of extra time for the trip.”
Specific tips included ensuring visibility by keeping the windscreen clean both on the outside and inside, as dirtier glass has the potential to fog up quicker than clean glass.
Aircon can also help keep the windscreen clean, as it ensures the air inside the car stays dry and on a foggy day when there is moisture outside, this can be a real aid to visibility.
When it comes to lights, drivers should only switch their fog lights on if visibility is less than 100 metres. However, the IAM told drivers to remember to switch them off as soon as the fog clears and visibility improves. Another potential issue is the car's daylight running lights, as they may not put the back lights on and this can cause huge problems for cars that are behind.
Drivers were told that fog has varying consistency and it is denser on some parts of the road than others. When it gets thicker, motorists should gradually slow down, braking earlier and in a more gentle manner so
there is plenty of time for brake lights to warn other drivers behind.
Visibility is often a problem at junctions, so drivers can wind the window down and listen for traffic as a last resort.
Mr Rodger concluded: "Don't underestimate the effect fog has on what you can see and how easily seen you are. Adjusting to the weather conditions is vital and will help you to become a safer and more confident driver through the winter months."
Posted by Bob Fletcher