Fog May Affect Your Ability To Avoid A New Haven Auto Accident

We are getting to the time of year when weather can become a large factor in your ability to drive safely and avoid getting into a New Haven auto accident. Often, when we talk about weather related issues that can affect our ability to operate a car safely we’re talking about conditions like rain and snow that can make roads slick and dangerous. These are certainly weather conditions that can make your ride treacherous, but they are most certainly not the only weather related issues that could affect whether you remain safe in your vehicle or not.

The changing temperatures of the fall season can often lead to treacherous weather conditions and cause you to be in a situation that is less than safe. Temperature swings between warmer weather and colder weather can often lead to fog in the atmosphere and fog can be very treacherous when you’re trying to get on the road. Fog can leave visibility at an all-time low and put you in a situation where you may not be able to keep yourself safe, even if you are taking all other precautions.

Weather conditions that result in fog rolling over the road you’re on can happen suddenly and without much notice. While forecasts may call for fog it is the type of condition that could happen on one stretch of road and not on another stretch of road. It could affect back roads and not highways. It could happen in the early morning hours and not again until the late evening. There are so many variables that affect whether or not you’re going to have to battle fog while you’re driving that you should be prepared to face this challenging driving condition anytime you head out and fog is in the forecast.

While you’re driving here are some things you can do to keep yourself safe if fog does all of a sudden present itself and cause you to lose any level of visibility.

1.) Slow down. The most important thing you can do if you’re facing a reduction in visibility is to slow down. Even if you end up below the speed limit, if you cannot see in front of you, you should not be driving at high speeds. If visibility becomes so bad that you cannot see at all, you should pull over to the side of the road and slow down to a complete stop until visibility is better and you feel safe getting back on the road.

2.) Turn on your headlights. Depending on the level of visibility a simple remedy to being able to navigate roads that are engulfed with fog is to turn on your headlights. Do not use your high beams in these situations as their impact will be amplified by the fog, but your typical headlights are the perfect tool to break through the fog ahead and see anyone who may be within your path.

3.) Leave extra space between you and the car in front of you. When visibility is affected, so too is your reaction time and if you are not leaving enough space between you and the car in front of you your reaction time may be so reduced that you wind up rear ending the car in front of you. If you notice that you’re struggling with the foggy conditions you should extend the distance you are leaving between you and any vehicles in front of you. Being able to react to the cars in front of you will keep you safe and leaving enough distance between you will allow you to react in time without any issues.

Weather conditions are often a factor in New Haven auto accidents but there are most certainly steps you can take to keep yourself free from the dangers that they present. It is especially important over the next few months that you are aware of what the weather conditions are when you hit the road and how you can go about navigating them so you can remain safe. While not all incidents can be avoided, if you are prepared you will be putting yourself in a situation that will give you the best chance to avoid an accident and any resulting injuries.

When an accident does happen, injuries may follow and you may need an experienced attorney who has knowledge of your situation to look after your needs. Contact our office and share the particulars of the situation and we will learn more about it in an effort to help protect your long-term interests.