At 6:10 a.m. on Wednesday, the National Weather Service said that Northern Erie, Southern Erie, and Crawford County would see dense fog through 8:30 a.m.
This morning, patchy, dense fog has formed, making it difficult to see for more than a quarter of a mile in certain areas. Early this morning, drivers could expect variable and locally extremely bad visibility. As the sun rises and the fog starts to clear, visibility should improve, according to the weather service.
Guidance from the weather service for navigating foggy conditions
The following safety advice should be kept in mind if you must drive in foggy conditions:
Slow down:
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Slow down and allocate extra time for your trip to reach your destination safely.
Visibility is important.
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Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which automatically activate your taillights. Utilize fog lights if your vehicle is equipped with them.
Steer clear of high beams:
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Refrain from using high-beam headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.
Keep your gaps safe:
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Maintain a generous following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifting traffic patterns.
Remain in your lane:
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Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to remaining in the correct lane.
Strategy for zero visibility:
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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.
Absence of parking choices
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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 are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.
Following these weather service guidelines will help you drive more safely in foggy circumstances, reducing the chance of accidents and putting your health first.
United Robots offers a service called Advance Local Weather Alerts that gathers the most recent information from the National Weather Service using machine learning.
