A report was issued from the National Weather Service on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. for dense fog until 11 a.m. The alert is for Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens as well as Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Westchester, Suffolk and Nassau counties.
“Fog in the region will be locally dense this morning before 11 a.m. These patches of dense fog will reduce visibilities to a quarter mile or less. Motorists should be prepared for rapid changes in visibility. Motorists are urged to slow down and use caution. Use low beam headlights and keep extra spacing between vehicles,” states the NWS.
Guidance from the NWS for navigating foggy conditions
If you need to drive through fog, remember these safety guidelines:
Reduce speed:
• Slow down and allocate extra time for your trip 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:
• Leave a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to account for sudden stops or changes in the traffic pattern.
Stay in your lane:
• To ensure you are staying in the correct lane, use the road’s lane markings as a guide.
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.
Limited parking options:
• If no parking area is available, pull your vehicle as far to the roadside as possible. Once stationary, turn off all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.
By adhering to these recommendations from the NWS, you can navigate foggy conditions with greater safety, mitigating the risk of accidents and prioritizing your well-being.
Source: The National Weather Service
