A weather alert was issued by the National Weather Service on Friday at 3:02 a.m. for fog until 9 a.m. for Plymouth, Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties.
“Satellite imagery and observations early this morning indicate areas of fog across portions of the South Shore of Massachusetts, as well as much of coastal Rhode Island and into Cape Cod and the Islands. Visibilities of one- half to 2 miles have been common, and at times have been as low as a quarter- mile. Fog will be slow to disperse and could make for slow travel for morning commuters. Motorists should be prepared to encounter sudden changes in visibility in foggy areas this morning. Use low-beam headlights and keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you,” states the weather service.
Fog safety: Tips from the weather service for safe travels
If you need to drive through fog, remember these safety guidelines:
Moderate your speed:
- Slow down and allocate extra time for your trip to reach your destination safely.
Visibility priority:
- Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which automatically activate your taillights. Utilize fog lights if your vehicle is equipped with them.
Avoid high-beams:
- Refrain from using high-beam headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.
Maintain safe gaps:
- Maintain a generous following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifting traffic patterns.
Stay in your lane:
- Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to remaining in the correct lane.
Zero visibility protocol:
- In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.
Limited parking options:
- If there is no parking lot or driveway to pull into, pull your vehicle off to the side of the road as far as possible. Once you come to a stop, turn off all lights except your hazard flashing lights, set the emergency brake, and take your foot off of the brake pedal to be sure the tail lights are not illuminated so that other drivers don’t mistakenly run into you.
By adhering to these precautions from the weather service, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the likelihood of accidents and ensuring your personal safety.
Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
