Driving skills (was Driving in fog)

[codprawn]

I assume most of the UK is now blanketed in dense fog by now? Doesn't help with the number of cars on the road Christmas time.

What I would like to know is why are the fastest cars usually the ones showing their rear fog lights? Now when they say "seriously reduced visability" they mean it. Fair enough the old granny doing 20mph but when some idiot is driving at 70mph in fog does he REALLY need his rear fog lights on? If the viz is so reduced they ARE needed why is he doing 70mph in the first place?

[Clive]

Basically I think its because he or she for that matter is a bit of a Knob...
that about covers it.
you may wish to try doing you christmas shopping in that stonkin rib of yours..I will look after it for you while you pop in woolworths...

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by codprawn

I assume most of the UK is now blanketed in dense fog by now? Doesn't help with the number of cars on the road Christmas time.

What I would like to know is why are the fastest cars usually the ones showing their rear fog lights? Now when they say "seriously reduced visability" they mean it. Fair enough the old granny doing 20mph but when some idiot is driving at 70mph in fog does he REALLY need his rear fog lights on? If the viz is so reduced they ARE needed why is he doing 70mph in the first place?

Because its the UK and the UK is full of CHAVS.

[Richard B]

Just done a round trip of a couple of hundres miles or so to the East Midlands and back. It's not too bad, I've experienced much worse fog than this. It's only just been freezing so no problem with washer nozzles freezing and the road surface was OK. The visibility was sufficient for 60-70mph most of the way, and it helped greatly that most people did use their fog lights so that on a busy motorway you could see the traffic clearly ahead. Some foolish people weren't using their fog lights which meant that their 5 watt tail lights weren't visible until you were close to them. One driver I saw on the M40 wasn't using any lights at all, and one driver was using hazards in lieu of non-functioning tail lights.

One of the worst problems with fog is speed differentials, and the worst accidents occur when fast traffic enters a dense patch of fog and brakes sharply. This occured in March 1997 on M42 resulting in a terrible 90 vehicle pile up and previously in the 70's on the M62 near Manchester resulting in the name "Death Valley" for a stretch of the motorway which descends into a deep dip which is often affected by fog as cold air sinks into this area.

I would say that the overall standard of driving I observed on the road today was better than usual.

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by Clive

Basically I think its because he or she for that matter is a bit of a Knob...
that about covers it.

What he said ^^^

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by Richard B

Just done a round trip of a couple of hundres miles or so to the East Midlands and back. It's not too bad,

I did 600 mile round trip yesterday from Scotland to N Wales and back - and apart from some local patches it was fine. And as with RichardB I felt standard of driving was pretty good. There were a few people leaving fog lights on unecessarily and a few not putting them on when they should - but driving is like sex - we all think we are better at it than everyone else when in reality we probably are not!

And Cod if your biggest issue is people leaving fog lights on your life must be easy.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Richard B

Just done a round trip of a couple of hundres miles or so to the East Midlands and back. It's not too bad, I've experienced much worse fog than this. It's only just been freezing so no problem with washer nozzles freezing and the road surface was OK. The visibility was sufficient for 60-70mph most of the way, and it helped greatly that most people did use their fog lights so that on a busy motorway you could see the traffic clearly ahead. Some foolish people weren't using their fog lights which meant that their 5 watt tail lights weren't visible until you were close to them. One driver I saw on the M40 wasn't using any lights at all, and one driver was using hazards in lieu of non-functioning tail lights.

One of the worst problems with fog is speed differentials, and the worst accidents occur when fast traffic enters a dense patch of fog and brakes sharply. This occured in March 1997 on M42 resulting in a terrible 90 vehicle pile up and previously in the 70's on the M62 near Manchester resulting in the name "Death Valley" for a stretch of the motorway which descends into a deep dip which is often affected by fog as cold air sinks into this area.

I would say that the overall standard of driving I observed on the road today was better than usual.

The fog is pretty bad here in some places - viz down to 1 lamp post away - drove 5 miles without getting above 2nd gear.

If you can't see someone unless they have foglights on you shouldn't be travelling at 70mph - what about a broken down vehicle/accident or debris on the road - you would have no chance!!!


Agreed on the other comments though.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Polwart

And Cod if your biggest issue is people leaving fog lights on your life must be easy.

I wish - you just don't know the 1/2 of it.....

It is NOT people just leaving their fog lights on - it's the idiots who seem to think viz is bad enough to justify them but still drive at 70mph that worries me. Either it IS bad enough to justify them in which case you should slow down - or it is safe to drive at 70mph in which case you don't need them!!!

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by codprawn

what about a broken down vehicle/accident or debris on the road...

Yep, but if you can see the next vehicle on the carriageway in front of you clearly, then only a broken-down meteorite plunging to earth is going to appear on the lane in front of you! Debris on the road is an interesting point.... what would you do? Swerve? Hmmm... think about it! Sure, always drive only as fast as you can see ahead for stopping etc, that's basic stuff.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Richard B

Yep, but if you can see the next vehicle on the carriageway in front of you clearly, then only a broken-down meteorite plunging to earth is going to appear on the lane in front of you! Debris on the road is an interesting point.... what would you do? Swerve? Hmmm... think about it! Sure, always drive only as fast as you can see ahead for stopping etc, that's basic stuff.

Couldn't agree more - unfortunately it is probably the MAIN cause of accidents - that and driving too close.