The National Weather Service issued a dense fog advisory at 2:26 a.m. on Monday in effect until 6 a.m. for Berkshire County.
The weather service comments, “Visibility one quarter mile or less in dense fog.”
“Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous,” describes the weather service. “If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.”
Navigating fog: Safety tips by the weather service
If a dense fog advisory is issued for your area, it means that widespread dense fog has developed and visibility often drops to just a quarter-mile or less. These conditions can make driving challenging, so exercise extreme caution on the road, and if possible, consider delaying your trip.
If driving through fog becomes inevitable, remember these safety guidelines:
Moderate your speed:
- Slow down and allocate extra travel time to reach your destination safely.
Visibility matters:
- Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights. If available, employ your fog lights.
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 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 are not illuminated, reducing the risk 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.
