Many different weather events can create hazards for drivers in Nebraska. One is heavy fog, which can drastically reduce a driver’s visibility and result in a collision with another vehicle, a fixed object, or a bicyclist or pedestrian. Use these safety tips for navigating foggy conditions to reduce your risk of a car accident.
Lower Your Speed
Speeding does not only refer to exceeding the speed limit. It means driving too fast for road, traffic and weather conditions. Fog that impedes visibility constitutes a reason to reduce your vehicle speed, potentially below the posted speed limit.
Reducing your speed can give you more time to react to changing roadway situations, such as a stopped vehicle that appears suddenly out of the fog. This can help you avoid crashing into the back of another car or causing other types of collisions in low-visibility conditions.
Increase Your Following Distance
Increase the following distance between the front of your car and the back of the car in front of you. Make room for a larger gap between your vehicles to give you more time to react in case the other driver stops abruptly. Maintaining a better following distance is important in inclement weather that limits your visibility and makes other drivers’ actions less predictable.
Use the Correct Lights
When driving in fog, use your low-beam headlights or fog lights, if you have them. Do not use your high-beam lights. High-beam headlights can create a glare by refracting off the water droplets in the fog, making it difficult or impossible for you to see the road ahead of you.
Low-beam lights, on the other hand, cut beneath the fog to help you see and to help others see you. If you need to make a turn, use your turn signals early to give drivers behind you ample time to see your vehicle in the fog and apply the brakes.
Use Road Lines for Navigation
If you are having trouble seeing the road in foggy weather, use the road lines for navigation. Follow the lines of the road with your eyes to ensure you remain in the proper lane. The white side line that separates your lane from the shoulder is often easier to see in low-visibility conditions than the dashed yellow line between two lanes. Using this line can also help you avoid crossing over the center line and getting into a head-on collision.
Pay Attention
Dedicate your full, undivided attention to the driving task when navigating fog. Turn off the radio and do not chat with passengers. Listen for traffic that may not be immediately visible in the haze. Stay alert and ready to hit the brakes or maneuver away from a hazard at a moment’s notice. Do not look at anything other than the road in front of you. Be extra cautious at intersections while checking for oncoming vehicles.
Know When to Stop
If you get caught in what is known as “super fog” – fog that produces zero visibility conditions – or haze that has advanced past a stage where you feel comfortable driving, turn on your hazard lights and pull over in a safe location at the earliest opportunity. Look for a parking lot or driveway to pull into rather than stopping on the side of the road, if possible, as this could confuse other drivers who may think you are still in a travel lane.
Contact an Attorney for Help After a Fog-Related Car Accident
If you get into a car accident in foggy weather conditions in Nebraska, consult with the Omaha car accident attorneys at Knowles Law Firm to explore your rights and legal options. You may be eligible for compensation even after a single-vehicle crash, depending on the circumstances.