Millions Warned of Hazardous Driving Conditions Across Texas
Dense fog is expected to blanket parts of Texas until Thursday morning, leading to poor visibility and hazardous driving conditions, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Fog Impact and Safety Concerns
Several counties have been warned about dense fog that could reduce visibility to less than a quarter of a mile in some areas. This diminished visibility is likely to make driving particularly dangerous and may disrupt Thursday morning commutes.
The Department of Transportation reports that low visibility due to fog contributes to over 38,700 vehicle crashes annually. In response, the NWS has urged drivers to:
- Slow down
- Use low beam headlights
- Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead
Safety Advice for Driving in Dense Fog
The dense fog expected overnight Wednesday through Thursday morning is forecast to reduce visibility to a quarter mile or less. The NWS issued the following recommendations for drivers in these conditions:
- Turn on hazard lights in extremely dense fog
- Pull over safely—on the shoulder or side of the road
- Turn off all lights except hazard lights
- Engage the hand brake and wait until the fog lifts
“A Dense Fog Advisory is in effect for most of east Texas through 9 a.m. Thursday as patchy, dense fog will lead to reduced visibility overnight and on the morning commute into work and school.” — Brad Hlozek, Chief Meteorologist, KTRE-TV ABC 9
Drivers should exercise caution and prepare for potentially dangerous driving conditions throughout affected areas.
Summary: Dense fog threatens to reduce visibility severely across many Texas counties, prompting safety warnings and urging drivers to take extra precautions to avoid accidents during morning commutes.