Fog can reduce the distance a driver can see and make a vehicle harder for others to see. This is general driving-safety information, not a conclusion about a particular crash or roadway.

Check conditions before continuing

Before leaving or continuing a trip, check current weather information and any fog advisory. The National Weather Service’s fog-hazards guidance explains why dense fog can develop quickly and why delaying travel may be appropriate when visibility is poor.

Use lighting that helps visibility

The National Weather Service’s fog-driving guidance advises using low-beam headlights rather than high beams, which can reflect light back in fog. Use fog lights if the vehicle is equipped with them. North Carolina G.S. 20-129 addresses vehicle lighting in restricted visibility, including fog; this guide does not decide whether a person complied with the law in a particular event.

Adjust for what you can see

  • Keep windows, mirrors, wipers, and the defroster clear enough to maintain visibility.
  • Reduce speed and increase following distance so the vehicle can be controlled within the distance visible ahead.
  • Use lane markings and the right edge of the road as visual guides rather than following another vehicle too closely.
  • Avoid abrupt steering, acceleration, or braking inputs when visibility is limited.

Stop only where it is genuinely safe

If visibility becomes inadequate, select a safe place completely off the roadway when possible. Conditions and vehicle instructions can differ, so use the vehicle’s controls as directed by its manufacturer.

Keep driving safety separate from a crash review

Fog alone does not establish why a collision occurred. For a separate discussion of bad weather, crash facts, and the limits of fault analysis, use the related guide. Questions in a Charlotte car-accident claim require a fact-specific review.

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