5 Tips for Riding your Motorcycle in the Fog

Fog is a natural phenomenon that is produced when a cloud settles on the ground. It can lead to accidents by impairing visibility for drivers.  When accidents happen in the fog, it can be difficult to establish who is at fault. The best course of action is to help prevent driving incidents and fatalities by being informed. See our tips below so that you’re prepared to stay safe on the road on a foggy day:

Pay attention: While you should always pay attention to the road, this is especially important in foggy weather when visibility is severely reduced. Many of the twists and turns of the road can be missed if you’re not focused on driving.

Use your low-beams: As crazy as it sounds, your low beams are more efficient than high-beams. High-beams reflect off the fog, reducing your visibility further. If you have a fog lights, use those along with your low-beams.

Use your Emergency Flashers – In dense fog – it is widely accepted for motorists and motorcyclists to drive with their emergency (hazard) flashers on.  This will increase your visibility and warn others on the road of your presence. When the fog clears, you may turn off your flashers and continue following the other recommendations listed here.

Drive smart: Be aware of your speed; you may be driving faster than you realize because there are no land markers to provide you with you visual cues. Avoid passing cars or speeding up to get out of the fog. Actions such as those can easily lead to an accident.

Be cautious: Increase your following distance, as you’ll need more time to react to sudden braking. Also, instead of using the middle of the lanes, use the side markers to guide you. Be aware of those around you and listen out for hazard or caution signs.

Stay calm: Speeding through the fog can be potentially hazardous and is ill advised. If you reach a patch of clearer visibility, stay aware. This could simply be a break in the fog, and more could creep up as you continue to drive.

By taking these steps, and keeping a good head about yourself, fog should present little to no problem. In the event that tragedy does strike while you’re on the road, contact 911 Biker Law for a team of lawyers who are on your side.

Ride safely!