A report from the National Weather Service was issued on Friday at 1:01 a.m. for dense fog until 9 a.m. for Dillon, Florence, Marion, Williamsburg, Horry and Georgetown counties.
“Areas of Fog will develop across the Bi-State region early this morning. Expect visibilities to reduce to 1 to 3 miles at times. Some of the fog may become locally dense at times, further reducing visibilities to less than 1/2 mile at times across the region. If this dense fog becomes more widespread then a Dense Fog Advisory will be issued,” says the weather service.
The weather service adds, “Motorists, when encountering the fog, SLOW DOWN, use your low beam headlights and leave extra distance between you and the vehicle ahead in case a sudden stop is applied.”
This alert is in effect until 9 a.m.
Fog safety: Tips from the weather service for safe travels
If you must drive in foggy conditions, keep the following safety tips in mind:
Moderate your speed:Slow down and allow extra travel time 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:Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to staying in the correct lane.
Visibility near zero:In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.
No parking options:If there is no parking lot or driveway to pull into, pull your vehicle off to the side of the road as far as possible. Once you come to a stop, turn off all lights except your hazard flashing lights, set the emergency brake, and take your foot off of the brake pedal to be sure the tail lights are not illuminated so that other drivers don’t mistakenly run into you.
By adhering to these weather service precautions, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the likelihood of accidents and ensuring your personal safety.
