Although we are nearing the end of our foggy season, I would like to pass along the following tips to help keep us safe while driving in foggy or low visibility conditions.

1. Slow down. If you cannot see where you are going, do not drive fast. Use your speedometer as a guide to regulate your speed, because thick fog masks the sensation of speed by removing visual indicators of velocity.
2. Use low-beam headlights. When visibility is restricted, a driver's natural tendency is to activate the high-beam headlights. When driving in fog, this further impairs visibility because the high-beam illumination reflects off of the fog and back at your vehicle.
3. Use fog lights. If your vehicle has front fog lights they can help illuminate the road and make your vehicle more visible to other drivers.
4. Use the right-side pavement line as a guide. In thick fog, use the white line painted on the right side of the road as a guide. Do not use the center pavement markings, because doing so will guide you to move closer to oncoming vehicles which are also driven by people having trouble seeing where they are going.
5. Do not stop on the road. When you cannot see where you are going, a natural reaction is to slow down or even stop. In fog, never stop on the road. Find a safe place to pull over that is as far away from traffic as possible and turn off your lights. Leaving your lights on may cause motorists to think that your taillights indicate the lane of travel, which could cause a collision.

Dust Story Safety Tips

Due to the drought ridden central valley dust storms may arrive suddenly with little warning, making driving conditions hazardous. Dust can quickly reduce visibility, causing collisions. Dust storms usually last only a few minutes, but the actions a motorist takes during the storm may be the most important of his or her life.

• If dense dust is observed blowing across or approaching the roadway, pull your vehicle of the roadway as far as possible, stop, turn off all lights, set the emergency brake, take your foot of the brake pedal to be sure brake lights are not illuminated.
• Do not enter the dust storm area if you can avoid it.
• If you cannot pull of the roadway, proceed at a speed suitable for the visibility, turn on your lights and sound the horn occasionally.
• Never stop on the traveled portion of the roadway.
• When visibility is reduced to less than 1,000 feet by inclement weather (fog, dust storms) your vehicle headlights must be illuminated -24400(c)(1) CVC.

Traffic Collisions

If you are involved in a traffic collision, try to remain calm and follow these tips:

• Assess the Situation – Scan the scene for any immediate dangers and deal with them as necessary. Are there any continuing dangers like fires or traffic? Take whatever means necessary to insure your safety and the safety of your passengers.
• If you and your passengers are safe and it is safe to do so, check the driver(s) and any passenger(s) of the other car(s) involved.
• If anyone is injured called 911 and request emergency personnel.
• Drivers involved in minor accidents with no serious injuries should move cars to the side of the road and out of the way of vehicle traffic. Leaving cars parked in the middle of the roadway or intersection could result in additional accidents.
• Drivers should move as far away from the roadway and traffic as possible.
• If the occupants in the vehicles cannot get out or outside conditions make it unsafe, drivers and passengers should remain with their seatbelts connected and activate hazard lights.
• If you have any questions regarding this article you can contact me at (559) 924-9671. If you would like to contact me when I am not working, the best way to reach me is via email at kevin.cosper@lemoorepd.com.