Safety Tips to Drive Foggy Season

[RSM]

It's the time of the year, when fog is creating havoc in every driver's life. Driving during this time of the night is like driving with a blindfold on. Perhaps the safest bet if you run into fog, is to move off the road and wait till the fog lifts up. But then, is this is practical solution? Perhaps not. Here we give you some tips as how to drive safe during this foggy weather.

Tip 1: Slow down and watch your speedometer - before you enter smoke. Smoke creates a visual illusion of slow motion than your actually speed. So watch your speed meter and take control. Most accidents occur because the driver is going too fast for the conditions.

Tip 2: Avoid passing or changing lane - Its always safe if you follow the car who is in front of you. You don't need to be act and feel like a super hero and change lanes.

Tip 3: Roll up your windows and put the heater on the recirculation mode to avoid outside air.

Tip 4: Use the right edge of the road or painted road markings as a guide. If you drive close to the painted marks, you will somewhat get to know where is the road leading to.

Tip 5: Signal turns well in advance and brake early as you approach a stop. Keep your windshield and headlights clean to reduce the glare and increase visibility. Use wipers and defrosters liberally for maximum visibility.

Tip 6: If you must pull off the road, signal (people tend to follow tail lights when driving in smoke), then carefully pull off as far as possible.

Tip 7: Put your high beam OFF. People have the tendency to put the beam on, thinking the visibility would be more. High beams direct light up into the fog making it difficult for you to see. Low beams direct light down onto the road and help other drivers to see you.

Tip 8: Remember that other drivers have a limited sight distance and that fog can leave roadways slick. Signal early, and when you use your brakes, don't stomp on them.

Drive Safe!!

Zigwheels

 

[Akash]

Very useful post.

Tip 7: Put your high beam OFF. People have the tendency to put the beam on, thinking the visibility would be more. High beams direct light up into the fog making it difficult for you to see. Low beams direct light down onto the road and help other drivers to see you.

I never knew this fact. Will be of much use for the drivers in north.

 

[Auto Hub India]

Dear RSM, very important and useful tips,let us put something exclusive from our own experiences.

 

[RSM]

let us put something exclusive from our own experiences.

There is no fog in Bangalore. so members from north india can put their exclusive and personal experience on foggy driving.

 

[Akash]

There is no fog in Bangalore. so members from north india can put their exclusive and personal experience on foggy driving.

Same stands for me too. No fog here even during worst winters. I think Vibhor is the best one to put his foggy experience.

 

[Neil.Bhujbal]

Same stands for me too. No fog here even during worst winters. I think Vibhor is the best one to put his foggy experience.

+ 1, Delhi has the worst situation during the FOG thing as its quite polluted.

 

[Aditya]

The fog in Gurgaon (Delhi) this time of the year is quite famous.
Agree with all, except Tip 3.
Due to the cold, this would end up with the inside of the vehicle steaming up.
Best to have the blower in the hot position, A/C on, and in Recirculation.

And one addition, have your wipers in the INT setting, or use the wiper once every so often ... condensation on the outside of the W/s leads to a huge loss of visibility, and in the absence of rain, many people forget to use the wiper.

 

[RSM]

Tip 3: Roll up your windows and put the heater on the recirculation mode to avoid outside air.

Agree with all, except Tip 3.
Due to the cold, this would end up with the inside of the vehicle steaming up.
Best to have the blower in the hot position, A/C on, and in Recirculation.

Aditya both seems same to me.

 

[Aditya]

Mea Culpa ... I meant FRESH AIR MODE.

In re-circulation, the glasses will tend to fog up.

 

[Auto Hub India]

There is no fog in Bangalore. so members from north india can put their exclusive and personal experience on foggy driving.

Well on that note let me put my own experience for foggy hillside driving.First of all I should say its very dangerous,more than plains to drive in foggy weather on hills.

1. If you put your windows closed never use recirculation as the CO2 ,which you and other occupants are giving out of their lungs will develop mist on the inner surfaces of the window glasses,thereby reducing visibility,which need frequent scrubbing of windows thereby distracting concentration from driving---in case you drive alone.
2. Dont put your car heater in HOT mode rather put it in WARM mode, as it will cause cabin to steam up and vapour will accumulate on windows.
3. Never use high-beam, as they get scattered in the fog highly reducing visibility, use low-beam and also install foglamps on front and rear,they enhance visibility.
4. Install small flashers ,if not then use HAZARD as the blinking lights get easily noticed in fogs by opposite traffics from distance and the yellowish lights of HAZARDS get less scattered in fog.
5. Always follow the rear lights of the front vehicle and maintain good distance between you and him, so that you get enough reaction time if he brakes suddenly,drive slowly, and if you are driving with no vehicle infront of you, then try to follow the curves of the hill on ur side to monitor the turns of the road.
6. Always use rear demister.

 

[RSM]

Good points AHI.

I think its neccessary to switch-on, rear fog-lamp, if you have. My Punto has got it.

 

[Neil.Bhujbal]

[*]Always follow the rear lights of the front vehicle and maintain good distance between you and him, so that you get enough reaction time if he brakes suddenly,drive slowly, and if you are driving with no vehicle infront of you, then try to follow the curves of the hill on ur side to monitor the turns of the road.

Its not a good thing to follow the tail lights of other cars.

That actually means you are driving on his judgment,which could land you in trouble.
In some cases even keeping sufficient distance doesn't help.

Have seen this practice on DARK roads/highways.

 

[RSM]

Its not a good thing to follow the tail lights of other cars.

That actually means you are driving on his judgment,which could land you in trouble.

Then how do you suggest to drive in foggy traffic condition, if one should not follow front tail light?

 

[Neil.Bhujbal]

Then how do you suggest to drive in foggy traffic condition, if one should not follow front tail light?

You have mentioned it yourself in the first post buddy

Tip 4:Use the right edge of the road or painted road markings as a guide. If you drive close to the painted marks, you will somewhat get to know where is the road leading to.

 

[RSM]

You have mentioned it yourself in the first post buddy

Yes but that in case nothing is in front of you.

See Tips 2 -

Its always safe if you follow the car who is in front of you.