Most New Jersey motorists know that there are risks associated with driving in foggy weather. There are a number of factors that make fog far more dangerous to drive in than normal weather conditions. Traveling in the fog can be especially dangerous on high-speed roadways during a time when visibility is already reduced, such as early morning or late at night.
These conditions are especially dangerous because dense fog can develop within minutes. Motorists’ visibility in this type of weather can be extremely limited. Several factors associated with the lack of visibility can impair driving, including reduced contrast, difficulty with depth perception and problems with delineating details up ahead. In foggy conditions, objects usually appear to be much further away than they actually are.
Because of these factors, most drivers tend to follow less than a safe distance behind other vehicles. Some parts of the country are more likely to have accidents caused by fog than others. In 2014, a report on the dangers of driving in fog was released by the AAA Foundation for Public Safety, and it noted that many motorists fail to take them into account, with often deadly results.
Although many car accidents that take place in foggy conditions are unavoidable, drivers still have a duty of care to their passengers and others who are on the road with them. This includes taking weather and road conditions into account. A person who has been injured in a crash caused by a motorist who was driving too fast or following a vehicle too closely may want to speak with a personal injury attorney to determine if filing a lawsuit against the negligent driver would be advisable.