As an injury trial lawyer licensed over 20 years in the state of Virginia (VA) the sight of thick, patchy fog always worries me when thinking about other drivers on the road. On May 13, 2009 two school divisions on the Eastern Shore of Virginia (VA) were forced to postpone classes due to fog, according to The Virginian-Pilot.
Thick fog isn’t relegated to the Eastern Shore. It affects numerous locations, especially cities near the water such as Virginia Beach, Norfolk or Portsmouth, Virginia (VA). For example, a little over a year ago on April 25, 2008 a woman named Chasity Chenelle Anderson was killed driving west on Interstate I-64 in Norfolk, Virginia (VA) at Willoughby when the weather conditions included thick fog, according to The Virginian-Pilot.
The article stated limited visibility because of fog and increased traffic diverted from the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel contributed to the Monitor-Merrimack accident, according to Sgt. Michelle Cotton, a police spokeswoman for Virginia (VA).
My colleague Randy Appleton, also a personal injury lawyer, wrote about the risk associated with fog, rain, or ice leading to car wrecks or death. Earlier, my partner John Cooper challenged us with this question: does Virginia law mandate that if you have your windshield wipers on, that you must have your lights on? Click here for the answer. All drivers must exercise a level of responsibility when driving in difficult weather conditions such as thick fog. But are the other car driver’s taking precautions that they should?
In order to avoid a car wreck while driving in fog, it’s recommended you get off the road as soon as possible and wait until the fog dissipates. However, if this is not a viable option here are some essential safety tips provided by Smartmotorist.com:
- Slow down. Many fog-related car wrecks and deaths occur because an individual was driving too fast and couldn’t stop in time to avoid a collision.
- Turn on your fog lights, and use low beams.
- Use your defroster and windscreen wipers in foggy conditions to keep the windows clear.
- Keep an eye on your speedometer and maintain a slow, constant speed.
- Signal early.
- When using your brakes, don’t stomp on them. Brake steadily.
About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm is based in Virginia (VA), near the NE North Carolina (NC) border and handles car,truck,railroad, and medical negligence cases and more. Our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY.
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