It’s like a scene out of a horror movie. You’re driving your pickup rental down the highway without a care in the world. Suddenly you’re blanketed in an impenetrable fog and you can no longer see the drivers behind and in front of you.
It’s no surprise thick fog can be one of the most dangerous weather conditions for all drivers — no matter the years of experience they’ve had behind the wheel. When you’re driving a company rental, you’ll want to stay on top of your game for your own safety and for the sake of your company’s investment.
Safety Tips for Driving in Fog:
Your visibility in fog is going to be reduced significantly. Driving will demand your undivided attention now more than ever, so turn down the radio and turn off your phone. Though many people will react to fog in ways that seem effective, those reactions may actually put you in more danger. Follow these safety tips for the next time you’re caught driving in fog:
- Leave your high-beam brights off: Fog is created from tiny water droplets in the air. Avoid a common driving in fog mistake. by using your brights, you won’t be able to see as far in front of you as you normally would because light reflects back at you.Be aware of this, because other drivers will have less visibility in fog due to their headlights and will also not be able to quickly react to a road hazard.
- Do Use Low Beam Lights: Lower beam lights are much better for fog driving in fog conditions. It also allows others to see and avoid you.
- Slow Down: Slow down your driving and allow extra time to reach your destination. If you were driving in a blizzard, you would slow down to give yourself some reaction time and increase your visibility. Your behavior while driving in fog shouldn’t be any different. It’s better to be safe and slow than risk everyone’s safety.
- Turn Off Cruise Control: Leaving cruise control off will ensure you stay focused and have enough time and space between other vehicles to avoid accidents.
- Give Space: Leaving a significant amount of space between you and the vehicle in front of you will allow more room for sudden stops or slips during traffic to avoid accidents. Your flatbed rental may not be visible to the driver behind you until the last moment, so give yourself extra space.
- Do Use Windshield Wipers and Defrosters: Although this may seem like common sense, just a reminder to use these functions available to you. This will ensure better visibility for reduced accidents.
- Use Lines on the Road as Your Markers: In extreme fog conditions, use lines on the road as guides so you can stay in your lane. This will keep you away from the center of the road and oncoming vehicles.
- Reduce Distractions: This goes without saying no matter what the driving conditions are. It’s even more imperative to ensure no distractions while driving in dangerous fog weather to reduce accidents.
- Pull over: If you feel overwhelmed and can’t see well enough, it’s okay to pull over to the right lane to drive slowly and safely. This is highly recommended. If the fog is too thick, pull over completely to the right shoulder or to a gas station where it’s safe to do so and wait it out.
It’s better to be safe than sorry No one wants to have the, “I wrecked one of your rental trucks,” conversation with their boss. Follow the safety tips above and save our video below to keep these safety tips handy in your pocket for the next time you catch yourself driving in dangerously thick fog conditions.
