Officer gives Young Drivers Advice

Driving conditions during the winter months are anything but ideal. With the winter comes ice, rain, hail, snow, and in California’s case, an abundance of fog. Driving in the fog can be one of the most dangerous road situations, as visibility becomes clouded and the road is often wet. Winter weather is especially dangerous for younger drivers who are not as experienced as adult drivers.

The colder months in the Central Valley almost always bring fog, but thankfully there are methods to help motorist travel safely in these conditions. California Highway Patrol officer Dan Freeman warns drivers to pay close attention in foggy weather.

“You have to give driving your undivided attention,” Freeman said. “If music distracts you, you are going to have to turn the radio off. You also don’t want to ever be using your phone while you are driving or other things like that, not only when it is foggy, but anytime. As far as fog, you have to drive slower because our body takes a certain time to perceive and react. You are not going to have enough reaction and perception time if an animal walks into the road, or if a child walks across the street.”

If at all possible, it is best to postpone your trip until the visibility improves. However, if you do find yourself driving in the fog, make sure you take every safety precaution available. Checking the traffic reports before your drive may help you avoid possible accidents. Before you even begin your journey, check to see if your fog lights are working properly.

Officer Freeman recommends keeping your headlights on the low beam to avoid causing any glare.

“Always make sure that your headlights are in good condition, and that you have a clean windshield,” Freeman said. “When you lights are in high beam, they will actually light up the fog in front of you, so it is better to have your lights in the lower position.”

You have to give driving your undivided attention. If music distracts you, you are going to have to turn the radio off. You also don’t want to ever be using your phone while you are driving or other things like that, not only when it is foggy, but anytime. As far as fog, you have to drive slower because our body takes a certain time to perceive and react. You are not going to have enough reaction and perception time if an animal walks into the road, or if a child walks across the street.–Dan Freemen 

There are many methods to driving safely in the fog, however if it becomes too hard to see, it is better to find a safe place to pull off the road and wait until the fog clears out. Be sure that you pull far enough away from the road so that another car will not collide with yours. Remember that being on time for school, work or your appointment is not as important as your safety.

Never try to drive fast in the fog. Not only could you turn off the road or run a stop sign, you could also crash into the back of another driver who is driving slower. In most cases, even driving at the normal speed limit is dangerous in foggy conditions.

Driving slower will help the driver be able to react quicker to any road hazard that may be in his or her path. Officer Freeman warns to drive slower in the fog because of the time it takes to react to any situation.

“Driving too fast is a common mistake that not just young drivers, but also more experienced drivers make in the fog,” Freeman said. “They say for the average person it takes three quarters of a second to perceive, so if a child runs in the roadway in front of you, it will take about three quarters of a second to perceive that. After you perceive that child you still have to react, which will take another three quarters of a second for your brain to react. From then on it just depends on how fast your car can stop.”

For some students, this is the first year that they will have to be driving in the fog. Many are researching ways to be safe in the fog, while others are asking more experienced drivers for tips on how to deal with the poor visibility.

Hannah Nale, ’17, uses different methods such as driving slower as well as turning her music down in order to hear if any cars are coming.

“You definitely have to drive slow, very slow,” Nale said. “The fog gets really bad around my house. I turn my music down low and sometimes I role my windows down to make sure no cars are around.”

As the winter months approach California, motorist across the state are preparing for the weather changes. Driving in the fog can be dangerous, but by following safety tips and driving carefully, drivers can reach their destination safety.

For more tips on how to drive safely in the fog, visit the California DMV website.

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