Driving in fog can be pretty dangerous. Your visibility will be a lot worse than usual, so it’s important to stay alert and drive safe.
We discuss our tips for how to drive safely in fog, and when it’s time to use your fog lights.
Tips for driving in foggy weather
If the fog is really thick and visibility is especially poor, it’s safer not to drive at all.
Keep an eye on weather warnings to see if it’s worth delaying your journey. Plus, check out the Highway Code’s guidance on driving in fog.
If you do need to drive, follow these tips.
Plan your route
It’s best to plan your route carefully and prepare for it to take longer than usual.
Check your car before you travel
The last thing you want is to break down in fog. It’s especially dangerous to pull off to one side when visibility is so poor.
That’s why it’s a good idea to do a quick check over your car before you set off. This could include checking your:
Plus, make sure all your windows are clear and clean.
What to pack in a car emergency kit
It’s a good idea to always have an emergency kit in your car – whether you’re driving in snow, ice, heavy rain or fog.
You could include:
- a high-vis jacket – this is especially important if you’re driving at night
- a torch
- spare batteries
- reflective warning signs
- phone charger
- warm clothes and blankets
Leave lots of distance between you and other cars
Because visibility is so much worse in fog, it’s important you give other cars on the road as wide a berth as possible.
Ideally, increase the gap from the recommended two seconds to about four seconds instead.
Slow down and be aware of other drivers
It may seem obvious but take things slow.
There’s a lot more hazards on the road, so it’s best to take things at a steady pace and stay alert.
Try to stay aware of all the different cars around you and any possible hazards.
Plus, it’s not a good idea to use cruise control. You want to stay in full control of your car or van at all times in case you need to react fast.
Check your mirrors before braking
You should always check your mirrors before braking anyway – but it’s especially important in fog.
With the visibility so bad you don’t know what could be hidden in the fog behind you, and a sudden brake without checking could mean you cause an accident.
Roll down your windows and listen for traffic at junctions
If the visibility is so bad you can’t see cars coming at a junction or crossroads, it’s safer to wind down your windows and listen for the sound of oncoming traffic.
It might be cold, but it’s worth doing.
What lights do I need to use when driving in fog?
When you’re driving in thick fog, you can’t just rely on your regular lights. You’ll need to use your dedicated fog lights.
These are mounted lower on your car and use very bright bulbs to increase visibility.
These are the fog light symbols:
When to use fog lights
If you’re not sure when you need to use your fog lights, a good rule of thumb is when your visibility is less than 100 metres in front of you. That’s roughly the length of a football pitch.
As soon as your visibility improves you need to turn your fog lights off, as they can dazzle other drivers.
When to use rear fog lights
The same rule of thumb applies here too. Turn on your fog lights when you can’t see for more than 100 metres ahead.
This will help drivers behind you see where you are. Again, it’s important you turn them off as soon as visibility improves.
What’s freezing fog?
Freezing fog is when the droplets of water in fog become ‘supercooled’, meaning they freeze everything they come into contact with.
How to drive in freezing fog
Ideally, you shouldn’t be driving in freezing fog at all.
The dangers of driving in fog anyway are made worse by the risk of ice – both on the roads and on your windshield.
If you do need to drive in freezing fog, follow the steps we’ve laid out above but also make sure you have plenty of de-icer, a scraper and spare screen wash in your car.
Plus, try to stick to main roads as they’re more likely to have been gritted.
