In San Diego there are not as many weather hazards as in other parts of the country. We don’t have to deal with blizzards and rarely have to even drive in heavy rain in the winter. However, there is occasionally heavy fog which can be a hazard. The truth is, many motorists do not know how to safely drive in fog. As a result, the dangers associated with the presence of fog itself is magnified significantly by how other motorists respond to it. Below are some pieces of advice for driving in the fog, courtesy of a San Diego personal injury lawyer.
The first thing to do in heavy fog is to slow down. Regardless of the posted speed limit, a driver should never drive a car or truck faster than is considered safe under the current conditions. Since fog can significantly hinder a driver’s line of sight, speed needs to be reduced. Fog can also affect the way you sense speed so check your speedometer to be sure you are driving at a cautious speed.
Additionally, you should use your low-beam headlights. For many, the natural tendency is to turn on high-beam lights when visibility is low. However, using high-beam lights in fog actually makes visibility worse because the light bounces off the fog and back through the windshield.
When visibility is drastically reduced, use the right side line as a guide and avoid using the pavement line in the middle of the road. Using the middle line increases your risk of accidentally running into the oncoming traffic lane.
You should never stop on the roadway and should avoid pulling over on the shoulder as well. If you need to stop, a personal injury attorney in La Mesa recommends getting off the road and as far away as possible. If you need to stop on the shoulder, it is best to turn off your lights.Leaving your lights on could lead other motorists to believe that your car is in motion or in a traffic lane, even if you are pulled over to the shoulder.
If you are involved in an accident, it is important to have a personal injury lawyer in San Marcos on your side. To find out more information about driving in fog, or to get answers to any other questions and set up a free consultation, call American Bar Association member Brett Geruntino, Esq. at Acclaim Law Group at (858)252-0781.
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