This morning when I came to work I noticed it was very foggy in spots. You get that typically in spring like weather. I came up to a busy highway intersection. I rolled my windows down and turned off my radio and blower switch to my defrost in my vehicle. I could hear something coming I normally wouldn’t have heard if I hadn’t done those things. I saw a pickup across from me was starting to pull out. All of a sudden the truck stopped partway through the intersection as we saw a semi-tractor coming in the nick of time. A school bus was behind the semi.
If you must drive in fog, follow these safety tips:
• Slow down and do not drive faster than your vision.
• Be cautious, fog can become thicker without warning and without being noticed until it is too late to react.
• Increase your following distance to ensure enough reaction time and stopping distance.
• Turn on your lights. Not all vehicle lights turn on automatically in fog. Use low beam headlights and fog lights. Do not use high beams.
• If necessary turn on your 4-way flashers to give vehicles approaching from behind a better opportunity to see and notice your vehicle.
• Use windshield wipers and defroster as necessary to maximize visibility.
• Be ready for emergency stops by other vehicles.
• Turn off your cruise control so you are in control of your vehicle.
• Use the right edge of the road or roadside reflectors as a guide.
• Listen for traffic you can’t see. This really works!
• Do not change lanes or pass other vehicles, unless absolutely necessary.
• Remember that other drivers have limited sight distance and that fog makes the road wet and possibly slippery or frosty this time of year.
• Signal early, and when you use your brakes, don’t stomp on them.
• Watch out for slow-moving and parked vehicles.
• If you cannot see, pull completely off the road preferably at a rest area or truck stop. • If you pull off the road, turn on your hazard flashers immediately.
Let’s have a safe spring!
And if you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me anytime, e-mail me at mtschirgi@claytoncountyia.gov, or stop by to see me.
Thanks and be safe,
Sheriff Mike Tschirgi