Tacoma residents know the region is prone to morning fog especially during autumn. This poses a safety hazard you cannot ignore. Nevertheless, life goes on and you still need to get behind the wheel. Here are four tips for foggy weather driving to ensure you arrive at your destination safely.

1. Leave More Distance

The general rule of thumb is to maintain a two-second distance between you and the car ahead. This applies to clear road conditions. If you can see the vehicle in front, increase the distance to four to six seconds. Even in heavy fog, you should still at least be able to see the taillights.

2. Avoid Using the High Beams

Conventional wisdom is to switch to the high beams under low visibility. We don’t recommend this for dense fog. High beam lights reflect off the fog and can worsen visibility.

With respect to old lights, consider replacing the headlights at our auto service. Older bulbs or faded light covers can decrease the lights’ brightness, making it harder to see past the fog.

3. Don’t Accelerate

Even under thick fog, some motorists will still drive like normal and follow more closely than they should. In response, you may be tempted to speed up and create more distance. However, maintain the same safe speed and following distance. Be mindful of what other drivers are doing but mainly concentrate on your own driving.

4. Stay Home

While not always doable, refrain from driving at all if you can help it. If you need to run an errand, hold it off until the weather clears. If you need to commute to work, let your supervisor know your situation.

Be Alert Under Foggy Weather Driving

Now is a good time to drop your car off at Jones Automotive Clinic for auto repairs. Subaru and Toyota repairs are our bread-and-butter specialties. A well-maintained car performs optimally even under formidable conditions, including driving in foggy weather.

Auto Maintenance for Tacoma Car Owners



Serving Customers in Tacoma, Sumner, Lake Tapps, Auburn, Federal Way, Des Moines, Gig Harbor, University Place, Fircrest and Ruston