Driving safely in fog

Dec 14, 2011, 3:06 GMT

Munich - Several major multiple car pile-up on motorways during the past few weeks have prompted safety experts to warn motorists to adapt their driving habits in thick fog.

In thick fog, with visibility dropping to below 50 metres, motorists in Germany are for instance required to switch on the fog lamp and reduce speed to a maximum of 50 kilometres per hour. The lamp must be switched off as soon as visibility improves. An indication of the visibility are the posts at the side of the road, positioned at a distance of 50 metres from each other.

Most big accidents are caused by motorists travelling too fast or orientating themselves to the tail-lights of the car in front of them. At the same time they feel pushed by headlights of cars coming from the rear.

On December 3, a total of 134 cars were involved in a multiple car pile-up during heavy fog on the Istanbul Trans European Motorway. One person was killed and 14 injured.

In the United States, 176 vehicles were involved in three separate chain-reaction crashes on the Tennessee State Route 386 on December 1. One person died and between 16 and 18 were injured.