Has fog ever made you pull over?

Question

Did fog ever become so thick you felt it safer just to pull well off the road? Anything that raised your heartbeat a bit?  I was thinking about this while stuck waiting for a road obstruction/mass police shut-down to move tonight. All the things that can make you pull over.  Usually if I can see the lines I’ll ease on, but it also depends on traffic. Only ever dealt with heavy fog when in my truck, and only once almost pulled over.  Pushed through and came out the abrupt side of the fog bank, to clear sun and a cop car warning cars entering the other side. It was very otherworldly. I was grinning and he gave me two thumbs up. Suppose he triggered the question.

Lost_in_the_Woods · Accepted Answer

I live near Afton Mountain in VA. So many people die to the fog up there. Super humid VA air meets altitude and rapid temperature changes and it can absolutely get unsafe.

In the car, I have never stopped outright but I absolutely have had to creep along at 20-30 with my hazards on unable to see the guard rail beside me (and its a steep drop off if you drive through the rail)

The only time I actually stopped was on my 82 Suzuki. Junk headlight from the 80's, no hazard lights, it was dark and approaching freezing, fog so bad I could barely see the front wheel. But I didn't wanna sleep up there. The fog doesn't just clear out up ahead or disperse after a few minutes. I had to make it back to the other side of the mountain.

I waited till a shiny new Subaru crosstrek came along with head/fog lights that cut through that fog like supermans laser vision. It was really impressive. I followed them the whole way, all I could see was their tail and brake lights. Nothing but blind faith in a total stranger but... most (new) Subaru owners are smart competent drivers.

In general, I don't like to chicken out. I ride in the hail when there are cars under bridges. I ride through floods, and I used to drive my 91 camaro TOWARDS the tornado warnings as fast as I could just for the thrills and excitement.

But the fog up there on Afton Mountain is not a joke. People die up there because they can't see. And I know I haven't seen the worst of it.

My policy has always been that the #1 safety feature on any vehicle is the windshield. If you can't see where you are going, identify a hazard and stop before you hit it, you need to slow down until that becomes true. If you can't see the road at all, you have to stop and fix that.

Sure, if there was a blizzard coming to bury me alive or a forest fire coming to bake and suffocate me I would take the chance. But up there on the mountain, there are lots of turns, ramps off towards the edge for tourists, rocks and deer in the road. . .

I'm no chicken. But I wouldn't ride up there blindfold without a Hero guided by the light of modern Japanese engineering to lead me home.

I didn't really have a plan. But I sure as hell wasn't going to ride up there blind at any speed. Especially not with one weak ass tail light and no cage around me.

It really comes down to what you are driving. Many modern cars and trucks have lights that are designed to work in fog and they are amazingly effective. I know the road, I usually laugh at the cagers on the shoulders, but sometimes it's no joke and one round headlight beam isn't gonna cut it.

anton_dee · Accepted Answer

Yesss. One of our Sunday rides was on the expressway where we intended high speeds. But as we touched the expressway, the fog was so bad that we cancelled the ride and breakfast binged at the roadside cafe.

ChrisMaster69 · Answer

I’ve had to pull over before and focus on trying to drive. Then drove off slowly trying to follow side of the road.

been stuck on a motorway in the snow, luckily me and a mate had been on an exercise, we had loads of military kit in my car, including food packs, stoves and sleeping bags.

we helped some of the cars around us and out on plenty Tea, then a mix of curries and stews.

the police drove past at some point and could not believe we were all sitting their around food cooking and Tea lol.

ohshee · Answer

Yes and no
Lol I have been through this but even when you want to pull over

You think if I pull over who is going to run in to the back of me

I was headed to Washington one time Towing my boat and it was foggy like that I was on a bridge and I hit black ice
I felt my tires lose traction lose my grip you don't dare touch your brakes and all I could do play slide into it and use my throttle to get myself out of it if my vote would have got the guardrail it would have been talking over and then either broke my HR it would have pulled me with it the only thing I could do is give it gas and drive into it to get out of it thank God I didn't care that you thank God I know how to slide thank God I can drive in the snow and I have played enough and ridden the dirt bike long enough you know exactly what to do within just seconds of thinking if I even had seconds I really don't know it all just became instinct

Red_Arrow · Answer

No. But I was once trapped on an interstate going high speed when a rain storm suddenly let loose and I could just barely see the lines next to the car, and not ahead at all. I was afraid to pull over because I could not see the cars in the next lane, and there was no place to pull off anyway. So I continued at the same speed (close to shitting my drawers!) and was guided only be the likes immediately down on my left. When it finally let up, all the cars that had been around me were still in the same relative positions. If I had changed speed or lanes, I could have started one hell of an accident!

AviatorTom · Answer

Stopping in fog can be more dangerous than continuing at a reasonable reduced speed; you could easily be rear-ended. I've never pulled over due to fog, though one time I remember getting off the expressway at an exit in fog and pulling into a parking lot, waiting there until the fog lifted, 30 minutes later. It was early morning, and the rising sun burned the fog off.

One key thing to remember in fog is to make sure you use low beams only... high beams will just create more visual whiteout and hamper the driver's vision.

Aerissa_Jade · Answer

Yes and sandstorms. Big mistake people make though is soon as they enter a fog bank or a sandstorm they slam on the brakes right away, well guess what the people behind can't see they stopped, best to let off gas... slow down naturally and work your way over as fast as possible to the side safely. Even start slowing when you see the fog or sandstorm, don't wait until you enter it.

MrOracle · Answer

Yes, definitely. California's central valley is prone to heavy fog at certain times of the year, and once or twice, I've hit that during a really heavy fog, and it was scary, because lots of people slow way down, but some idiots drive through at full speed even though they can barely see past their own bumper. I've also seen the aftermath several times of horrible collisions where someone did exactly that and plowed into a slow-moving car ahead of them.

OneNineZero · Answer

I won't give the location name but once I was on a morning walk and the fog was so thick I could not see anything beyond 12 inches, I thought it would be better to find a good safe spot and wait until the visibility gets better or I could bump into people, things, cars, houses

TrueConfection · Answer

I remember my mother having to pull over in the fog when I was a little girl. It was pretty dense and suddenly it went from crawling along the lines to not being able to see the hood ornament. I thought it was pretty cool, but I could tell my mother was concerned.

Drumlin2001 · Answer

No. But very close to having to. Was in the hill in Madeira on holiday, winds/rain/fog, visibility was only a few feet. Thankfully google maps sat nav was great and tracked the road for us, we were navigating by that mainly as could barely see a thing

Massageman · Answer

Oh, yes. One spring we drove down south and got caught in a freak blizzard on a "scenic road" in the Smokies. Couldn't pull off- no shoulders- no crossroads. Could barely see the end of the hood of the car- near white-out. And someone was following US- blind leading the blind. We slowed down to about 15 mph (24 kph), I read out the GPS (slight turn right ahead, now straight, sweeping turn to left, etc). with each turn and we made it through. But, it WAS rather nerve wracking.

Apple1996 · Answer

Nah even though I have driven in VERY foggy areas going through the mountains in West Virginia. They have speed limit signs that change based on how foggy it is so it's safe to drive

TommyMountainFigure · Answer

Yep.
Whilst I hate stopping on a journey unnecessarily, I'm not reckless and if conditions for driving are beyond what I deem acceptable, then I will find a safe place to pull in until conditions improve.

Twice for fog, once for tiredness ( I was falling asleep,) and hailstones when my wipers packed up..

katiesmuff · Answer

No never have seen fog that thick, but that has to be scary as hell! We see on TV of these horrific accidents on highways up north due to fog and snow storms. Can't say I miss having those kind of things in Florida.

Anonymous · Answer

Statically speaking driving in fog is the most dangerous weather out there, more than ice and rain. With reduced visibility you have to really reduce your rate of speed, otherwise you have no way to break in time if there is an accident or road hazard.

SaoirseS · Answer

Not that I recall. I have pulled over for torrential downpours and a tornado before.

zagor · Answer

I lived in the Central Valley in California for a while and in the winter it can get terrible tule fog that makes it dangerous to drive. I tried not to be out after 10 PM when it was bad.

Luv2BRealExotic13 · Answer

Almost I haven’t encountered a bad one. Rain though if it’s a really terrible down pour of white conditions I have turned my flashers on and pulled off to the nearest gas station.

Barry88 · Answer

No. A couple of times the sight was that bad that I had to use the fog lights, and of course adjust my speed, but the fog was never that dense that I didn't dare to drive anymore.

DaveToo · Answer

Apparently, you have never driven through Central New York.

Anonymous · Answer

I've driven in the rain on the highway with no windshield wipers over a dozen times... So no

motownplayer2000 · Answer

Nah. I just look at the lines on the road.. that’s what they are there for

SpaceGalaxy · Answer

Best to pull over on the side of the road and start to fuck your partner. No one can see the inside of your car anyways so why not?

Waldoe · Answer

YES... sometimes (when I was younger) FOG would roll in after I had a few too many drinks...

Anonymous · Answer

better to be safe then sorry and risk getting into a car accident and injure someone or yourself or both and risk ruining your car and having your insurance rates go up

bigpauly · Answer

Oh scary.  I have never pulled over for fog but I have for rain

exitseven · Answer

No. I usually shut off my headlights because the headlights reflect off the water droplets. I have pulled over because of a blizzard before.

CubaPirate · Answer

It has happened but I'd say I've had to pull over more due to torrential rain

douride2 · Answer

I have come close to pulling off the road in fog but never have. I did have rain come down so hard I got off the road a few times though.

helva · Answer

Never had the need to pull over because of fog, but it happened a few times because of rain.

RebeccaBI2000 · Answer

Nope. I just follow the fog line. I will slow down though

humanearth · Answer

Oh yeah, a few times, being on dark county roads, you can see the ditches

Jamie05rhs · Answer

We don't usually get a whole lot of fog here. But certainly rain. And yes, I have had to pull over once or twice.

gabby100 · Answer

If its bad i usually , pull off and stop at the services. Much safer there than being rear ended.

nannnnssss · Answer

Go slow find a car infront of you and follow the tail lights

Babygirl_S · Answer

It gets really foggy in New Delhi during winters but it never happened to me.

Foteini1985 · Answer

No It Makes me slows down. Heavy rain has made me pull over.

Wise4myage · Answer

No, but I hate driving in the fog and I would pull over if It was really thick.

OddBeMe · Answer

Driving the coast south of LA…definitely. Wasn’t prepared for that.

jackinoff · Answer

Fog hasn't even though I've considered it. I have pulled over because of snow, icy conditions. I've driven in some bad rain too.

slatyb · Answer

I pulled over under a bridge for hail once.

dorksided1 · Answer

Yes this fog can be very disorienting

bowenw · Answer

Yes a few times at night in winter.

Beta_incel · Answer

Foggy roads don't scare me, only women do.

SignedAutographs · Answer

No, it's not

TX651 · Answer

Yes, thick fog is not safe.

eagle1951 · Answer

in 54 years of driving has never happened

josephinelcajon · Answer

Yes but normally no

captainggaming · Answer

No. I don't drive.

Blackcupcake · Answer

never so far… lol

EssenceOfLight · Answer

Yes, many times.

Eleni1989 · Answer

I no I go slower.

Jouth · Answer

foggy road

Has fog ever made you pull over?

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