The National Weather Service issued an updated weather alert at 3:07 a.m. on Tuesday for dense fog until 9 a.m. for Berkshire County.
“Areas of dense fog will continue through around 9 a.m. in portions of eastern New York and western New England, especially around river valleys, swamps, wetlands and lakes. Some visibilities may drop to one quarter of a mile or less at times. Motorists should be prepared to encounter significantly reduced visibilities at times through 9 a.m. this morning, and should use low beam headlights and allow for increased braking distance when driving through areas of dense fog,” according to 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:
Reduce speed:
- Slow down and allow 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 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:
- 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.
Visibility near zero:
- In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, initiate your hazard lights and locate a secure spot, such as a nearby business parking area, to pull over and come to a halt.
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 weather service recommendations, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring 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.
