Riding in the fog

[Lil_Green_Demon]

Any tips on what to do when riding through foggy conditions?

I tend to use my high beams, which still aren't all that bright, and I follow behind a car at a much slower pace than anyone else on the road with me, so I can see the cars' taillights and have a decently quick reaction time.

I'm asking because as I type this, I'm at work, sitting in the blistering cold with my jacket on for warmth (textile material isn't helping), and I can see fog developing around me. I'm getting off work in an hour and a half, so I already know I'll be riding through this fog.

[C L]

Don't use highbeams in fog, it'll make it even more harder to see

[SteveL]

I try if possible not to ride in fog, your visor needs wiping every minute or so cloths that are not protected by the fairing become wet very quickly. Being seen by other road users is a problem as bikes do not have rear fog lights and if you had ridden in real fog you would have found that highbeam is no use in fog.

Steve

[gfloyd2002]

Suggestions for fog riding:

• Don't ride in the fog if you can avoid it. It is statistically the most dangerous time to be on the road by far. Wait it out or take a car if you have to go out.
• Keep your high beams off. Fog reflects light, and the high beams only illuminate the fog while obscuring the road. Whatever you do, don't turn off your lights altogether, though, you need to be visible to other cars. Use low beams as a compromise.
• Drive on the right side of the lane (left in the UK) farthest away from oncoming traffic. Not only will this give you more distance from oncoming cars, it will also allow you to navigate by the white fog line on the side of the road.
• Never drive faster than you can see. If you only have 20 feet of visibility, you need to be driving slow enough that you can stop within 20 feet.
• Leave more space between you and the car in front of you. Rear enders are the most common fog accident, and that car in front of you may go 40 to 0 instantly at any moment. 3 seconds following distance instead of normal 1 or 2 recommended.
• Be very careful when you are stopped at left turn lane, at stop sign especially, or at side of road. Cars behind you may think you are still moving until it is too late, and be locked into your taillight as a guiding light. If you pull off the road, get WAY off the road and turn your light off. Hesitate at stop signs less than you might normally, be aware of what is behind you, and pull away a bit quicker than usual before resuming very slow, safe speeds.
• Have a cloth handy, or a glove attached squeegie, ready to wipe down your visor. Don't stop on the road to do this. See tip above.

[DarC]

Originally Posted by gfloyd2002

Suggestions for fog riding:

• Don't ride in the fog if you can avoid it. It is statistically the most dangerous time to be on the road by far. Wait it out or take a car if you have to go out.
• Keep your high beams off. Fog reflects light, and the high beams only illuminate the fog while obscuring the road. Whatever you do, don't turn off your lights altogether, though, you need to be visible to other cars. Use low beams as a compromise.
• Drive on the right side of the lane (left in the UK) farthest away from oncoming traffic. Not only will this give you more distance from oncoming cars, it will also allow you to navigate by the white fog line on the side of the road.
• Never drive faster than you can see. If you only have 20 feet of visibility, you need to be driving slow enough that you can stop within 20 feet.
• Leave more space between you and the car in front of you. Rear enders are the most common fog accident, and that car in front of you may go 40 to 0 instantly at any moment. 3 seconds following distance instead of normal 1 or 2 recommended.
• Be very careful when you are stopped at left turn lane, at stop sign especially, or at side of road. Cars behind you may think you are still moving until it is too late, and be locked into your taillight as a guiding light. If you pull off the road, get WAY off the road and turn your light off. Hesitate at stop signs less than you might normally, be aware of what is behind you, and pull away a bit quicker than usual before resuming very slow, safe speeds.
• Have a cloth handy, or a glove attached squeegie, ready to wipe down your visor. Don't stop on the road to do this. See tip above.

Dead on.

[Alex]

/moved to Riding Skills area

/lined from main sticky there

[1LoneWolf]

I ride in the fog all the time, living in the Bay Area, which is arguably one of the foggiest places in the country. Just use common sense, don't speed, and wear reflective gear. Turn off the high, it causes glare.

[JeffM]

I wonder if adding a strobing bicycle tail light somewhere on your or your bike would be helpful if you had to drive in the fog?

Motorcycle tail lights are pretty weak and I would think that they (and you) would disappear quickly in the fog. The bike tail lights are really bright and might help to make a driver aware of you up ahead.

Regarding them being legal, I'd rather have someone see me than get rear-ended in dense fog. I believe, bicycles are bound by the same lighting laws as motor vehicles and they can use them. Just a thought.

Example:

Link to original page on YouTube.

[Lil_Green_Demon]

Ah, ok. Yeah, I figured it was the glare that was making riding with the highbeams on seem like a bad idea.
Thanks for the advice, folks.

[MotoED]

Good luck riding tonight man. I was kinda sh*tting on my way home from work.

Thanks for the tips Floyd. Learned something new

Interesting point there Jeff. Has someone tried this before?

[rusninja]

When i was driving home from sacramento at night a while ago with my girlfriend, It was so foggy i couldnt see like 10 feet ahead I had to go by the dividing reflectors. There was two harley ridders big boys i was scared for them i was only able to hear them. :S

[gfloyd2002]

Originally Posted by JeffM

I wonder if adding a strobing bicycle tail light somewhere on your or your bike would be helpful if you had to drive in the fog?

Motorcycle tail lights are pretty weak and I would think that they (and you) would disappear quickly in the fog. The bike tail lights are really bright and might help to make a driver aware of you up ahead.

Regarding them being legal, I'd rather have someone see me than get rear-ended in dense fog. I believe, bicycles are bound by the same lighting laws as motor vehicles and they can use them. Just a thought.

Jeff, this is one of the reasons I installed an LED rear tail light with a modulator for my ninjette. Awesome upgrade that I think really improves safety. Apply the brake, and I get automatic flashing. CThunder-Blue, a member here and a good guy to work with (www.modmy250.com) sells a very nice brake light modulator that is plug and play. Probably my favorite mod, as it is the only one I can say actually makes me safer rather than faster or better looking.

Link to original page on YouTube.

[CZroe]

I had to go home from work in San Diego in 0% visibility fog several times. Condensation would also accumulate and stick to the face shield. I learned NOT to keep my shield cracked open or else it would condense on my glasses too! To clear my shield I could usually just turn my head sideways each direction for several seconds and the condensation would bead up and fly off.

[Lil_Green_Demon]

Originally Posted by CZroe

I had to go home from work in San Diego in 0% visibility fog several times. Condensation would also accumulate and stick to the face shield. I learned NOT to keep my shield cracked open or else it would condense on my glasses too! To clear my shield I could usually just turn my head sideways each direction for several seconds and the condensation would bead up and fly off.

Yep, the condensation collecting on my glasses is a problem for me, too.


Hey, Jeff, that's awesome. I'm most likely going to look into that, too!

[JLinde1339]

You have to just use common sense with regard to the highbeams. I will use them in fog, as long as its not too dense. Sometimes it will help light up the reflective road signs and such, so that you can see them from longer distances, thus giving you a better idea of where the road is. This will also increase your visibility to other drivers, as they will see your "sphere of light" (aura) much better when going over hills or around turns. But by all means, if your visibility is worsened by them, turn the hi's off. Again, common sense.
Posted via Mobile Device

[JeffM]

Originally Posted by gfloyd2002

Jeff, this is one of the reasons I installed an LED rear tail light with a modulator for my ninjette. Awesome upgrade that I think really improves safety. Apply the brake, and I get automatic flashing.

True and an upgrade I have been thinking of adding. However, I was thinking of the bicycle light in addition to the brake light and on continuous flash mode. Just to get you noticed in a thick patch of fog.

[chemist]

Originally Posted by JeffM

True and an upgrade I have been thinking of adding. However, I was thinking of the bicycle light in addition to the brake light and on continuous flash mode. Just to get you noticed in a thick patch of fog.

Wow! that is a really good idea. I have gotten my fair share of foggy mornings already and I do just go A LOT slower but biggest fear has been getting rear ended. I have more than enough bike lights that I can use for those foggy days, thanks.

[MrAtom]

i wonder if regularly riding in the fog allows too much condensation in the engine.

[Brother Michigan]

Originally Posted by MrAtom

i wonder if regularly riding in the fog allows too much condensation in the engine.

Nah, the only difference between riding in fog and riding on a humid day is that the fog is composed of condensed water droplets rather than water vapor. Anything that makes it into the combustion chamber (which shouldn't be much anyway) will very quickly evaporate.

[ninja250r81]

Try Philips Weather Vision 2900K Ultimate Yellow Light. - One of the best quality Halogen Bulbs available

[LNasty]

I just installed some brighter, larger eagle eye leds under my front cowling. Intended purpose is for cages to see more a little better, however I'm interested in how they will help in fog. First set I had were only 1.5W each, New ones are 4.5W each. While riding at night they definitely create a nice light patch that extends about 15 to 20 feet to the front and about 6 to 8 feet to each side. I will try to get pics posted up lights in nighttime and daytime. Which on a completely random note, my last sentence just reminded me of this......

Link to original page on YouTube.

[greenaero]

Zombie alert

[LNasty]

Only have night shot so far, camera had trouble with glare. I do have the led's angled down so they won't blind people, plus the cowling acts as a shield once an on coming car gets close enough. The first set i had lasted over two years, and were still working and were even China made crap. New ones are American made and the whole setup only cost about $12 including the splice connectors and metal for the mounts i made.

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[Proteus]

I rode through some pretty thick fog on my way to work this morning. I just rode slower than normal, kept a larger following distance, and used my low beam. I have green LED strips under my tail that light my back end up pretty nicely. I've noticed that even in normal conditions cagers don't follow me as closely since I put them back there.