22. Fog.

Fog reduces visibility, limits contrast, distorts perception and causes many car accidents each year.  In essence, it limits your ability to see other cars and objects on the road, so you must be very cautious when driving in it.

Fog is produced by the suspension of very fine moisture droplets in the air.  When light hits these droplets, it scatters and results in a loss of contrast and a dense white background.  As these droplets get smaller, fog gets thicker and makes for roadways that are even more blanketed.  As a result, car drivers cannot see very far ahead, and car accidents become an even greater possibility than normal.

When an airport becomes “fogged in,” planes do not take off.  Moreover, any airborne plane must also land at another airport.  As car accident lawyers, we wonder if cars shouldn’t be driven in certain foggy conditions with zero or low visibility?

Fog Affects Driver Perception in 4 Ways

1.  It distorts your perception of speed.  Due to the lowered contrast, you might think that an object is traveling slower than it really is.  This also applies to your own speed as you will not be able to judge your own speed based on your surrounds.  You cannot even see your surroundings!

If you drive in the fog, we caution against speeding while driving in the fog.  Even though the speed limit may be 50 mph, that does not mean you should drive at this speed.  In fact, speed limits are designed for driving in perfect conditions.  When the weather is a factor, you’ll need to driver at a slower speed than normal.

2.  You will have a hard time distinguishing between a stationary object and a moving one.  More specifically, you will have difficulty determining between parked cars and driving cars.  This could easily result in an accident if you are not careful.

3.  You may misjudge distance.  People instinctively judge that blurry objects are further away than clear ones.  With fog reducing contrast and clouding your viewpoint, you are more likely to misjudge just how far away another car or stationary object is, making car accidents far more likely.

4.  Foggy conditions can be further exasperated by faulty logic.  If you drive at night in the fog, you might think to use your high beams. NEVER USE YOUR HIGH BEAMS IN FOG.  Instead of increasing visibility, like you would think, using your brights will only serve to scatter more light back at you.  This will make conditions even worse.

3 Tips to Avoid a Car Accident

While fog makes for treacherous road conditions, there are ways in which you can avoid a car accident in these conditions.

1.  Take your time. In poor weather, take your time.  It’s better to arrive late than to rush and cause a car accident.

2.  Use your fog lights, if possible. Most experts believe that yellow or green lights reflect back less light than just your normal white lights.  White lights contain all the colors (more wavelengths), and experts have found that a single wavelength (yellow, green or blue) will allow for less reflection.

3.  Drive with extreme caution. Allow for a greater distance between you and the car in front of you.  Always travel at a slower speed than the posted speed limit as these conditions dictate lower speeds.

Call Us Now to Maximize Your Settlement

With most poor weather driving conditions, caution will help you avoid a car accident, and foggy weather is no different.  While car accident statistics go up during fog, many drivers make it safely to their destination.  That is why, as car accident lawyers, we believe that a cautious driver is a safe driver.  Never is that more important than in bad weather conditions.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident during foggy conditions, call us now at 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer or click here to submit your case for a FREE online review.

Since 1992, our San Diego law firm has been geared primarily towards auto accident claims.  We know how the insurance companies work, so let our insider knowledge help you in your time of need.