Car insurance – Tips & Advice – Road safety
When it comes to fog, the best advice is to avoid driving if at all possible. Of course this is not always the case, especially when fog suddenly comes down on you as it has a tendency to do. It’s therefore wise to assume that fog could happen at any time and to be prepared for it by taking precautions and knowing what to do when on the road.
Before you set off
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Plan your route
Knowing exactly where you are going can take some of the stress out of driving in fog. Use our online route planner to help you get from A to B but choose the safest route rather than the quickest. A GPS (Global Positioning System) can also help to ensure that you are following the right route if you have poor visibility. Just make sure that it doesn’t distract you.
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Maintain your motor
It’s even more essential to keep up good car maintenance in winter as your car will need to work harder to cope with conditions like rain, snow, wind, ice and fog. Make sure everything is in working order, especially lights, brakes, tyres, windscreen wipers, radiator and battery. You should also ensure that the heater vents are free from obstruction on the dashboard, that there’s sufficient anti-freeze in your radiator, and that windscreen washer bottles are topped up with additive to avoid freezing. Fog often comes with wet and slippery roads so you need to be prepared for this too.
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Tank up
Make sure your vehicle is topped up with fuel in case of delays caused by weather or related incidents.
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Keep warm
Your heating system should help you stay warm if all is in order but it’s wise to keep some extra clothing in the car in case temperatures really drop or you breakdown. A high visibility jacket and torch is also a good idea so that you can see and be seen better if you have to get out of the car.
On the road
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Turn on fog lamps
Switch on headlights, dip them if necessary and turn on fog lights if visibility is reduced. Fog lamps are very bright, however, so if you can see the vehicles behind you then it’s likely they can also see you. In this case your fog lights will dazzle other drivers so turn them off.
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Be aware of wet weather
Fog can also bring rain and slippery roads so turn on windscreen wipers and use the de-mister if you need to.
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Keep your distance
Don’t hang on to the rear lights of the car in front as this will not give you enough distance to stop safely.
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Avoid distractions
You really need to keep an eye on the road and use your ears more carefully to judge traffic that you cannot see. So turn off loud music and don’t eat, drink, smoke or use your mobile when driving. Some of these activities are now illegal while driving – and all of them could get you a fine or points if you are caught driving dangerously.
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Watch your speed
On motorways, illuminated fog signs should alert you to any speed changes. Otherwise keep speed to a safe limit but be aware of traffic around you. Don’t speed up as soon as visibility returns – in patchy fog, it could only be a few metres before you are ‘blind’ again and could run into a hidden vehicle.
Related information:
Observing the speed limit – swot up on safe speeds and the Highway Code
Driving in adverse weather conditions – there can be hazardous weather conditions at any time of year – make sure you know how to adjust your driving accordingly
Safe summer driving – extreme heat can cause driving problems but there are precautions you can put in place
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