1) SLOW Down! It should go without saying, but people often drive too fast for conditions. Fog can be difficult to drive in because it can suddenly become very thick completely obscuring visibility. Remember you can get a traffic ticket for driving the speed limit if an officer believes you are driving too fast for conditions.
2) Be On The Look Out for Cyclist and Pedestrians! Cyclist and pedestrians are already difficult to see in low light situations. Fog can compound the issue. Additionally, drivers may cross the white line (fog line) on the right side of the road that divides the bike lane from the traffic lane because they are concerned that they will get in a head on collision. Driving close to the fog line is very dangerous especially in areas where cyclist and pedestrians are along side the road.
3) Use Your Low Beam Headlights! Thankfully most drivers use their headlights in low visibility situations. However some drivers instinctively use their high beams when driving in the fog. I guess the theory is you can see better through the fog if you have a brighter light shining. The exact opposite is true. High beams cause the light to reflect and refract off of the fog and makes it very difficult to see. A driver can create a more dangerous situation if they are using their high beam headlights in the fog.
4) Remember to Turn off Fog Lights When On-Coming Traffic Approaches! Many vehicles are equipped with fog lights. These bright lights are directed low at the road and can increase visibility for the driver. NEVER substitute fog lights for headlights. You should use both. Oregon has very specific laws regarding fog lights. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has advised that people should turn off fog lights when they are within 300 feet of oncoming traffic during low light situations. A low light situation is at night, dawn, or dusk. ODOT asserts that fog lights are very distracting to on-coming drivers.
