Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Hamad Trauma Center has urged road users to take extra precautions and to be cautious during times of low visibility and foggy weather conditions. In low visibility conditions, a common error is to turn on emergency flashers or hazard lights to increase visibility, says an expert.
“Don’t use the emergency flashers or hazard lights unless you are pulling off the road to park your vehicle, which you should do if visibility is decreasing rapidly or if dense fog reduces visibility. If you use your flashers, you are not able to use your signal lights to warn others of your planned turns or lane changes,” said Dr Rafael Consunji (pictured), Director of the Hamad Injury Prevention Program (HIPP), the community outreach arm of HMC’s Trauma Surgery Section.
“In low visibility conditions, one must do their utmost to be seen by other road users. Turning on the vehicle’s headlights to low beam is one way to ensure this is achieved,” he added.
Last year, the Ministry of Interior reported 113 motor vehicle crashes on one particularly foggy day in January. There has been an intensified effort to prevent a repeat this year and the HIPP is recommending all road users be shrewd. “We are calling on road users to ensure their own safety by taking appropriate precautions during low visibility conditions, which are most common during early mornings and evenings. Due to ongoing road construction around the county, there are constant changes to road layouts and traffic flow, so commuters should be more aware of their surroundings and be extra conscious of other road users,” he said.
Dr Consunji urges road users to slow down and wear seatbelt, turn on headlights, wear reflectors or high visibility gear, expect delays and give a head start, clear all windows and keep them partially rolled down as distractions must be avoided. “Driving during fog can be likened to driving with a blindfold. It is driving without seeing your surroundings and other road users, pedestrians, cyclists, or vehicles. This is why slowing down is the first thing to do in fog. It will allow you to avoid obstacles and braking without notice. In the event of a crash or a sudden stop, passengers and drivers using a seatbelt dramatically reduce their risk of serious injury or death and allow their airbags to protect them optimally,” he said.
Wearing high visibility clothing such as reflective vests or bright colors, or attaching a light to your bicycle or carrying a torch or flashlight will make a pedestrian or cyclist more noticeable in low-visibility conditions.
Speeding and reckless driving in low visibility conditions increases the chance of being involved in a motor vehicle crash. Starting your journey earlier will enable you to arrive in a timely manner and without speeding.
Make sure windows and mirrors are clean before the rip, and use your defroster and wipers to keep them clear. For faster defogging, use the air conditioner with the temperature set to 'hot'.
Low visibility conditions demand that a driver be able to use all of his/her senses. And Dr Consunji urges road users to avoid distractions such as mobile phones or the stereo so you can pay full attention to the road conditions.
