On Monday at 2:42 a.m. the National Weather Service issued a dense fog advisory in effect until 9 a.m. The advisory is for Wilkes, Greene, Taliaferro, Putnam, Hancock, Warren, Monroe, Jones, Baldwin, Washington, Glascock, Jefferson, Taylor, Crawford, Bibb, Twiggs, Wilkinson, Johnson, Emanuel, Marion, Schley, Macon, Peach, Houston, Bleckley, Laurens, Treutlen, Webster, Sumter, Dooly, Crisp, Pulaski, Wilcox, Dodge, Telfair, Wheeler, Montgomery and Toombs counties.
The NWS adds, "Visibility one quarter mile or less in dense fog."
"Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous," says the NWS. "If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you."
Navigating fog: Safety tips by the NWS
When a dense fog advisory is issued for your area, it means that widespread dense fog has developed and visibility can plummet to a quarter-mile or less. These conditions pose challenges for travel, so exercise extra caution on the road or consider postponing your trip if possible.
If you must venture out in foggy conditions, keep these safety tips from the NWS in mind:
Reduce speed:
Slow down and allow extra travel time to reach your destination safely.
Visibility priority:
Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights. If available, employ your fog lights.
Avoid high-beams:
Refrain from using high-beam headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.
Keep your distance:
Keep a considerable following distance to account for sudden stops or shifts in traffic patterns.
Stay in your lane:
To ensure you are staying in the correct lane, use the road's lane markings as a guide.
Zero visibility strategy:
In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.
No parking options:
If there is no parking lot or driveway to pull into, pull your vehicle off to the side of the road as far as possible. Once you come to a stop, turn off all lights except your hazard flashing lights, set the emergency brake, and take your foot off of the brake pedal to be sure the tail lights are not illuminated so that other drivers don't mistakenly run into you.
By adhering to these recommendations from the NWS, you can navigate foggy conditions with greater safety, mitigating the risk of accidents and prioritizing your well-being.
Source: The National Weather Service
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