Some people like rain, others prefer snow, but nobody likes fog, especially driving in it.
It takes a special mix of ingredients for fog to develop—conditions which are common in fall—first, there has to be enough water vapour in the air. When the ground cools, as in the early morning or late at night, so too does the air near it, causing water vapour in the air to condense into cloud droplets, which we see as fog.
It’s the same as flying through a patch of cloud in an airplane, except you’re the captain now, and you don’t have autopilot to help stick the landing. So, what can you do?
Understand Your Car’s Lighting System
If there’s one thing you take away from this article, make it this: do not use your high beams in fog. Doing so actually makes it harder to see, not easier. The reason for that is your high beams reflect in the fog’s water molecules, causing glare, and making it more difficult to see what’s ahead of you. Instead, use your low beams, and if your car has fog lights, use them in combination with the low beams to help you see better.
One thing to keep in mind is that many cars now have high beam systems that turn on automatically as long as there’s not a car ahead of you. The problem is they can’t detect fog or snow squall conditions. That’s why you should never rely on these systems completely. Always know how to switch between the high and low beams manually if necessary.
Keep An Eye On The Fog Line
You’ve probably never paid much attention to it, but the fog line is the white line at the right edge of the road. Technically it marks the edge of the legally driveable portion of the pavement, but its original purpose was to help drivers stay on the road in conditions of low visibility, such as fog.
No need to stare at it though—just use it as a reference point to help you stay centred in your lane. You don’t want to use the center line for orientation because it can draw you closer to oncoming traffic. Also, when an oncoming vehicle’s headlights are too bright, glance over at the fog line to avoid being temporarily blinded.
