Drivers are more likely to find themselves in foggy weather in Georgia during the winter months. Driving in poor visibility presents its own hazards. Fog can be rare meaning many motorists are not familiar with navigating these conditions.
On occasions, Georgia has seen terrible pile-ups due to foggy conditions. In 2002, about 125 vehicles were involved in a mass pile-up in foggy conditions near Ringgold in Georgia. Approximately, 125 vehicles piled up in a foggy chain-reaction crash that killed four motorists and left a half-mile trail of mangled vehicles on a highway in northwest Georgia, reported Online Athens.
The accident occurred about five miles south of the Tennessee line on Interstate 75. It shut down the highway in both directions and also caused 39 injuries, 15 of which were described as serious.
driving in foggy weather in Georgia presents hazards
Driving in fog is very dangerous because visibility may be dramatically reduced. To keep safe, follow these five tips for driving in foggy conditions.
1 Keep Your Speed Down
As an experienced Georgia personal injury lawyer, I’m always amazed to see how many people drive too fast for foggy or wet conditions.
Thick fog can be dangerous because it masks your speed. Use your speedometer as a guide to regulate your speed and keep your distance behind the vehicle in front.
2 Use Low-Beam Headlights
When visibility is reduced, a driver may be tempted to use powerful high beams. You should always use low beams because high beams reflect the light off the fog and back again.
3 Drive With Your Fog Lights On
If your car or truck is equipped with front fog lights, use them in poor visibility. These lights will help illuminate the road and make your car more visible to other drivers.
4 Never Stop on the Road
Although you should slow down when driving in fog, resist the temptation to stop no matter how thick the fog. Stopping when you can’t see is a natural reaction. In fog, never stop on the road. Find a safe place to pull over that is as far away from the traffic as possible and turn off your lights. Leaving your lights on could lead other motorists to believe that your taillights indicate the lane of travel, leading to a collision.
5 Use the Right-Side Pavement as a Guide
In thick mist and fog, use the white lines on the right side of the road as a guide for driving. Do not use the center pavement markings. Using the center line as a guide will bring you closer to oncoming vehicles whose drivers are also struggling to see.
You should always follow safety first rules on the highways of Georgia whatever the weather conditions.
If you have been injured in a Georgia car wreck, please call The Law Office of Michael West at (404) 913-1529.