The National Weather Service issued a weather alert at 5:37 a.m. on Monday for dense fog until 8 a.m. for Berkshire County.
“Locally dense fog has developed along rivers and within sheltered locales across the central and eastern Mohawk Valley, Capital District, northern Taconics, and Berkshires. Areas of fog will dissipate quickly following sunrise. Drivers should exercise caution when encountering rapidly changing roadway visibility, and should be sure to use low-beam headlights within areas of fog,” says the weather service.
Fog safety: Tips from the weather service for safe travels
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 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:
- Leave a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to account for sudden stops or changes in the traffic pattern.
Stay in your lane:
- Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to staying in the correct lane.
Zero visibility strategy:
- 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 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.
