On Monday at 2:56 a.m. a dense fog advisory was issued by the National Weather Service valid for Monday between 3 a.m. and 8 a.m. for Bristol and Plymouth counties.
The weather service adds, “Visibility less than one mile in dense fog.”
“Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses,” states the weather service. “If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.”
Navigating fog: Safety tips by the weather service
When a dense fog advisory is issued for your area, it means that widespread dense fog has developed and visibility can plummet to a quarter-mile or less. These conditions pose challenges for travel, so exercise extra caution on the road or consider postponing your trip if possible.
If you must drive in foggy conditions, keep the following safety tips in mind:
Reduce speed:
Slow down and allocate extra time for your trip to reach your destination safely.
Visibility matters:
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.
Keep your distance:
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 staying in the correct lane.
Zero visibility protocol:
In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a safe spot, like a nearby business parking lot, to pull over and stop.
No parking options:
If no designated parking area is available, pull your vehicle as far off the road as possible. Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain unlit, minimizing the chance of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.
By adhering to these weather service recommendations, you can navigate foggy conditions with greater safety, mitigating the risk of accidents and prioritizing your well-being.
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.
