Navigating securely in conditions of fog, rain, snow, and reduced visibility on the roadways
In the unpredictable world of driving, it's essential to adjust our strategies to suit the conditions. Failure to do so can put motorists at a high risk of accidents or injuries and endanger the lives of others we share the road with. Here are some key safety tips for driving safely in poor visibility conditions such as rain, fog, snow, smoke, glare, and at night.
Firstly, use low beams and fog lights appropriately. High beams in fog, rain, or snow can reflect light back, impairing visibility and creating glare. Instead, use low beams or fog lights if available since they cast a low, wide beam that improves visibility without reflection.
Secondly, turn on your headlights whenever visibility is reduced. This helps you see and be seen by others. In winter or bad weather, use headlights even on cloudy days or light rain to enhance visibility and alert drivers.
Thirdly, maintain a safe following distance. Increase your gap to about three times the normal distance in snow, ice, or rain to allow extra reaction time and braking distance.
Fourthly, avoid sudden stops and maneuvers. Brake gently and early to prevent skidding, and steer smoothly to stay in control, especially on slippery surfaces caused by snow, ice, or wet roads.
Fifthly, adjust your speed to conditions. Reduce speed in poor visibility or slippery conditions to allow more time for reaction to hazards.
Sixthly, turn off high beams when approaching other vehicles or on hills and curves. High beams can blind other drivers and increase accident risk.
Seventhly, use windshield wipers, defoggers, and keep windows clean. Ensuring unobstructed visibility is critical, especially at night or in smoke-filled environments where glare and haze can reduce sight distance.
Eighthly, minimize glare by using sun visors or polarized sunglasses during the day, and avoid looking directly at oncoming headlights at night. Glare can severely impair vision and cause eye strain.
Ninthly, be extra cautious at intersections and stop signs. Dim your lights and slow down to avoid blinding others and to have clear visibility of cross traffic.
Tenthly, be vigilant for barricade or warning lights on roads, especially at night or in low visibility, as they mark hazards or lane changes. These lights are regulated for safety and help navigate safely through work zones or emergency areas.
Poor visibility is defined as when road users are not clearly visible at a distance of 100m due to unfavourable conditions. Sun glare can cause temporary blindness while driving, especially during early morning and evening. Regularly check windscreen wipers and replace if they leave streaks. If a car with high beams is behind, adjust the rear vision mirror to reduce glare. Adjust sun visor and keep polarised sunglasses handy during sun glare. Demisters can help clear foggy windows, and the air conditioner can also be used.
If blinded by another car's high beams, use lane markings to guide yourself until the other vehicle passes. There isn't a set amount to reduce speed during poor visibility conditions, but it should be enough to maintain the specified distance without creating a hazard for other motorists. High beams should be reserved for dark roads with no oncoming traffic. Do not continue driving until visibility returns. Having a clean windscreen improves visibility and prevents light scattering and glare.
Motorists should increase their distance and decrease their speed when driving in conditions with poor visibility. Opening windows can be a last resort for clearing foggy windows. If visibility is further impaired, an additional second should be added, making the minimum distance five seconds. High beams should not be used in fog, smoke, or snow as they can scatter light and make visibility worse. Driving at night can also result in poor visibility due to the limitations of headlights and streetlights.
Conditions that cause poor visibility include rain, fog, snow, sun glare, smoke, and dust. In rainy conditions, drivers should add one second to the minimum of three seconds, making a total of four seconds, between their car and the car in front. Vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcycles are much more difficult to see in low visibility conditions. Fog lights or dimmed headlights should be used instead of high beams in poor visibility conditions. If visibility worsens to the point that you can't see past your bonnet, put on hazard lights and pull over as soon as safe to do so. Using glass cleaner and microfibre cloth can ensure a crystal-clear windscreen.
In the realm of outdoor-living and home-and-garden, it's crucial to adapt our strategies to match the weather conditions for optimal safety. For instance, cleaning the windscreen regularly ensures unobstructed visibility during rainy days, as scattered light and glare can reduce sight distance. Furthermore, when the sun glare is intense, using sun visors, polarized sunglasses, or adjusting sun distinct visor can help minimize the impact on vision, just like how the appropriate use of low beams and fog lights during poor visibility enhances driving safety.
