A weather alert was issued by the National Weather Service on Friday at 4:18 a.m. for dense fog until 7 a.m. for Berkshire County.
“Areas of dense fog have developed in the Upper Hudson River Valley in New York, Housatonic River Valley in western Massachusetts and Connecticut River Valley in southern Vermont resulting in visibilities down to a quarter mile. Motorists should use low beam lighting, allow extra following distance, and exercise caution if traveling through early this morning,” says the weather service.
Guidance from the weather service for navigating foggy conditions
If you must venture out in foggy conditions, keep these safety tips from the weather service in mind:
Moderate your speed:
- Slow down and allow extra travel time to reach your destination safely.
Visibility priority:
- Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights. If you have fog lights, use them.
Avoid high-beams:
- Refrain from using high-beam headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.
Keep a safe distance:
- Keep a considerable following distance to account for sudden stops or shifts in traffic patterns.
Stay in your lane:
- Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to remaining in the correct lane.
Visibility near zero:
- In situations of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a secure location, such as a nearby business’s parking lot, to pull over and come to a 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 precautions, 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.
