Fog is a dense white cloud which rests on the ground, especially during cold weather. It is also one of the most dangerous natural phenomena to drive in, particularly if you’re not used to driving in fog. In the Middle East, we don’t get fog too often, which is why most of you may not be accustomed to driving in UAE fog.
We have compiled a list of simple tips for you to follow to drive safely in fog.
Keep an eye on the weather forecasts
If there’s a fog imminent any time during the winter, local weather broadcasts warn beforehand. Avoid driving during the time when the fog is due to hit your area or your destination. Areas near rivers or lakes tend to be more prone to fogs; be more careful when you’re driving to one of those. Dubai, being near the coast, experiences very dense fogs. They may be infrequent, but they’re among the most dangerous in the world.
Drive in UAE Fog Tips
- Keep distance from the vehicle in the front
One of the major reasons of accidents in fog is wrongly judging the speed of the vehicle in front. The high-speed vehicles we have here are at greater risk of getting into accidents during fog. With compromised visibility, it is easy to misinterpret the speed of the preceding vehicle and may cause a crash. Make sure the vehicle in front of you has a head start of 5 seconds instead of the advised 2 seconds in normal visibility, so you are not close to it.
- Make regular adjustments to the defroster and windshield wipers
During fog, the moisture on the outside continuously condenses on the cold windshield of your car. Condensation on the inside caused by your own breath can be taken care of by only the defroster, while that on the outside needs a little help from the wipers too. Use both to achieve the best possible visibility by keeping the windshield clear at all times during the drive.
- Use fog lights if your car has them
Fog lights may not be one of the absolute essential features to have in your car in the UAE, but they’re present in most cars available here. Fog lights serve a completely different purpose than headlights. For starters, they’re installed below the front bumper and are therefore closer to the ground. Their beam of light is usually yellow or clear, and is flat and wide, unlike the beam of headlights which aims at the vehicle in front more. Fog lights illuminate the road for as far as their beam goes, and its width allows you clearer visual access to the sidewalks and the lanes around you too.
- Use headlights on low beam
Your impulse might ask you to switch to high beam as soon as you encounter fog en route. However, that is the last thing you actually want to do. High beams get directly reflected by the thick fog back at you, decreasing visibility even further. Use low beams in thick fog; they focus more on the road in front of you than directly on the fog. Once the fog thins, you can switch to high beams.
- Stick to your lane
It is extremely important to stay in your lane in a foggy weather. Once you turn on hazard lights, the next most important thing is to keep going straight. Reduced visibility can hinder the sense of direction too; which is why your best bet is to choose one side of the road you are on and always keep your vehicle near that edge of the road while travelling straight on it.
- Don’t try too hard if it’s too difficult
If the visibility gets reduced to zero, and you simply can’t see anything in front of you, it is best to pull over and wait for the fog to thin out before heading on. Don’t try too hard to wade your way through a dense fog if you can’t see anything 5 feet beyond your car; it’s too dangerous.
Following these few simple but extremely crucial tips can get you to successfully reach your destination next time you encounter an intimidating fog on your way.