5 Tips to Drive Safely in the Fog
5 Tips to Drive Safely in the Fog
Before getting into the tips, it’s important to understand that fog is one of the most hazardous driving conditions. It can significantly reduce visibility and distort depth perception, making it harder to judge distance and speed. Some of the largest fog-related pileups in U.S. history have involved dozens—even hundreds—of vehicles, often occurring on high-speed highways where visibility suddenly drops to near zero.
If you can delay your trip, that’s always the safest option. But if driving is unavoidable, here’s how to handle fog safely. These five practical tips can help you stay safer.
Tip #1 - Before you get on the road, listen to the weather report. Does the weatherman have an idea when the fog is going to lift? Once you are on the road, use a visual search pattern to assess conditions ahead. Pay attention to how dense the fog is, how far you can see, and whether there are additional hazards like drizzle or ice on the roadway. These factors should guide your speed and driving decisions.
Tip #2 - Reduce your speed more than you feel is necessary. Fog limits how far ahead you can see, so you need extra time to react to, for example, stopped vehicles or animals on the road. Adjust your speed so you can be ready to slow down if conditions worsen.
Tip #3 - Use low-beam headlights (not high beams). When you have your high beams on, they reflect off the fog and make your visibility worse. If you use your low beams, they will help illuminate the road without creating glare.
Tip #4 - Increase your following distance. In normal conditions, a three-second gap may be enough. In fog, you should double that distance or more, depending on how heavy the fog is. You will need extra space that gives you more time to react if the vehicle ahead stops suddenly. Follow road markings to stay on track, for example, lane lines—especially the right edge line as a guide. This helps you maintain your position on the road when visibility is limited.
Tip #5 - Never stop in a travel lane. Stopping in an active lane puts you at serious risk of being hit. If visibility becomes too poor to continue, safely signal and move slowly to the right lane or pull into a shoulder or parking area if possible, and turn on your hazard lights.
At NHSA, our goal is to provide online driver education courses that equip all drivers with what they need to be safe drivers. Whether you are a teen seeking a learner’s permit, or an adult driver seeking a basic driver safety course, check us out online to see what courses are available in your state!