A report was issued from the National Weather Service on Thursday at 5:34 a.m. for dense fog until 8 a.m. The alert is for Inland Glynn, Inland Camden, Northern Ware, Northeastern Charlton, Southern Ware and Western Charlton as well as Coffee, Jeff Davis, Bacon, Appling, Wayne, Atkinson, Pierce, Brantley, Echols and Clinch counties.
“Patchy dense fog has developed across portions of Southeast Georgia and inland Northeast Florida early this morning. Local visibilities as low as 1/4 mile can be expected through sunrise, with slowly improving conditions between 8am and 9am. The nature of the fog is such that visibilities will vary greatly over short distances. Motorists should be alert for rapidly changing conditions through sunrise. If driving, slow down and leave extra distance ahead of you in case a sudden stop is needed,” according to the NWS.
Navigating fog: Safety tips by the NWS
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 headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.
Maintain safe gaps:
• Maintain a significant following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifts in traffic patterns.
Stay in your lane:
• To ensure you are staying in the correct lane, use the road’s lane markings as a guide.
Visibility near zero:
• In situations of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a secure location, such as a nearby business’s parking lot, to pull over and come to a stop.
No 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