The National Weather Service issued a report at 6:06 a.m. Tuesday predicting dense fog in Passaic County until 9 a.m.
“Dense fog has developed in various parts of the region early this morning. Within the dense fog, visibility will be reduced to a quarter mile or less. The fog is expected to clear by 9 a.m. Motorists should be prepared for rapid changes in visibility and maintain more distance between vehicles. Use low beam headlights,” the weather service said.
Navigating in fog: safety tips from the weather service
If you must venture outside in foggy weather, follow these safety tips from the weather service:
Reduce your speed:
- Drive slower and allow more time for your journey to reach your destination safely.
Visibility priority:
- Make sure your vehicle is visible to others by turning on your low beam headlights, which will also activate your tail lights. Turn on your fog lights, if you have them.
Avoid high beam:
- Avoid using your high beam as it will cause glare and impair your vision on the road.
Maintain safe distances:
- Maintain a generous following distance to compensate for abrupt stops or changing traffic patterns.
Stay on your lane:
- To ensure you stay in the correct lane, follow the lane markings.
Visibility close to zero:
- If visibility is almost zero due to thick fog, turn on your hazard lights and find a safe place, such as the parking lot of a nearby business, to stop.
Limited parking:
- If parking is not available, pull your vehicle as far to the side of the road as possible. Once you stop, turn off all lights except the hazard lights, apply the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are off. This will reduce the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.
By following these precautions from the weather service, you can navigate more safely in foggy conditions, reduce the risk of accidents, and ensure your personal safety.
Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service from United Robots that uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
