For anyone who has lived in the UAE for a year and more, the change in the weather should come as no surprise. And with the change in the weather to more enjoyable, moderate temperatures comes the risk of fog. It is a fact of life and is a regular occurrence at times over some winter mornings.
In the past few days, fog has developed overnight and, in one instance, led to flight disruptions at Dubai International Airport. In that instance, only those travelling abroad or flying in were affected. More importantly however, all drivers need to be aware of the dangers of driving in fog. Simply put, if it’s foggy, you need to slow down. This past week has also seen five workers killed in a morning road crash. Their deaths should be a stark reminder to us all that we need to drive according to the road conditions.
It’s essential that every driver on UAE roads on foggy mornings takes necessary precautions to drive and arrive safely at his or her destination. When visibility is limited, it’s essential to slow down and maintain a proper and safe distance between vehicles. All vehicles are fitted with four-way flashers and these should not be utilised while driving; these should be used only when the vehicle is stationary. Better still, if your vehicle is equipped with fog lamps, turn them on.
Never take the chance of speeding and it’s vital that you drive at a slow-enough speed to ensure that you can see and stop in the distance available. With your lights turned on, you need to make yourself visible to other drivers. And if it takes longer than normal to reach your destination, so be it. It’s better to arrive late than dead.
