A weather alert was issued by the National Weather Service on Saturday at 8:19 a.m. for dense fog until 11:30 a.m. for Erie and Chautauqua counties.
“Localized dense fog will continue along the Lake Erie shore from downtown Buffalo southwestward through southern Erie and Chautauqua counties through mid to late morning. Visibility will be reduced to less than a quarter mile at times, mainly within a mile or two of Lake Erie. The fog is expected to dissipate by midday,” according to the weather service.
Guidance from the weather service for navigating foggy conditions
If you must venture out in foggy conditions, keep these safety tips from the weather service in mind:
Moderate your speed:
- Slow down and allocate 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 lights, as they create glare, making it more difficult for you to see what’s ahead of you 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:
- Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to staying in the correct lane.
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 weather service, you can navigate foggy conditions with greater safety, mitigating the risk of accidents and prioritizing your well-being…