A report from the National Weather Service was issued on Friday at 5:20 a.m. for dense fog until 10 a.m. The alert is for Inland Nassau, Eastern Hamilton, Eastern Alachua, Western Hamilton, Western Clay, Western Alachua, Northern Columbia, Southeastern Columbia, Western Duval and Southwestern Columbia as well as Suwannee, Baker, Union, Bradford and Gilchrist counties.

“Areas of locally dense fog have developed along portions of the Interstate 75 and Interstate 10 corridors early this morning, in addition to portions of inland southeast Georgia. Foggy conditions may continue through the early morning hours in the Suwannee Valley and inland southeast Georgia. The nature of the fog is such that visibilities will vary greatly over short distances. Motorists should be alert for rapidly changing conditions early this morning,” states the NWS.

Guidance from the NWS for navigating foggy conditions

If you must drive in foggy conditions, keep the following safety tips in mind:

Moderate your 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 you have fog lights, use them.

Avoid high-beams:

• Refrain from using high-beam headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.

Maintain safe gaps:

• Maintain a generous following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifting traffic patterns.

Stay in your lane:

• To ensure you are staying in the correct lane, use the road’s lane markings as a guide.

Zero visibility protocol:

• 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 designated parking area is available, pull your vehicle as far off the road as possible. Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain unlit, minimizing the chance of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.

By adhering to these recommendations from the NWS, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring your well-being.

Source: The National Weather Service