The month of December is always difficult for driving as fog remains the main hindrance. Due to blinding fog,more than 20 people including a Colonel have lost their lives in the past 24 hours in Punjab. In a press release issued here today,Punjab State Road Safety Council Vice-Chairman Kamalzit Soi said,A fog can be thought of as a cloud at ground level. It forms when the temperature drops to the dew point (the temperature at which air is saturated),and invisible water vapor in the air condenses to form suspended water droplets. Fog can reduce visibility to 1/4 mile or less,creating hazardous driving conditions. If you cant postpone your trip until the dense fog lifts usually by late morning or the afternoon- follow some tips for safe driving. Dr Soi said that one should drive with lights on low beam. High beams will only be reflected back off the fog and actually impair visibility even more. Reduce your speed and watch your speedometer. A fog creates a visual illusion of slow motion when you may actually be speeding. Listen for traffic you cannot see. Open your window a little,to hear better. Use wipers and defrosters as necessary for maximum visibility. Use the right edge of the road or painted road markings as a guide. Be patient. Do not pass lines of traffic. He added,Do not stop on a highway or heavily traveled road. If your car stalls or becomes disabled,turn your vehicles lights off and take your foot off of the brake pedal. People tend to follow tail lights when driving in fog. Move away from the vehicle to avoid injury. Dr Soi further suggested that if the visibility is poor,one should pull off the road and park away from the edge of the road until the fog clears.
