Driving in fog

[SpookySingingDoll]

Today I drove longish distance in fog for the first time and I'm not sure if I got it right. I have only been driving for a year and I am an older person (51) so although I am competent I don't have years of experience compared to other people my age. So I would be grateful for any input on how you tackle longish drives in fog.

I drove a short distance in fog a couple of times last year and hated it : I was frightened because I couldn't see and I drove really slowly.

When I set off today it gradually got foggier during my journey but I mostly kept at the speed limit and didn't go much slower. Mostly flat dual carriageway and single lane a road with some hills but I know them both fairly well now, traffic patchy or very light. What I found was contrary to my instinct to crawl along I felt safer going at proper speed and keeping up with cars in front of me. Was this foolhardy?

The other question is about something specific - at one point on the dual carriageway I went round a corner and saw the car in front of me was going extremely slow, there were cars in both lanes, I indicated to overtake and put my hazards on as I was having to brake, a car on the right behind flashed me in so I could overtake, as I passed the very slow car I saw his door window was broken and taped up which is why he was going slow. Was that okay to do do you think?

or to warn drivers behind you of a hazard or obstruction ahead

Slowing down so suddenly is a hazard. A car's hazard lights will switch on automatically when the driver has to brake so rapidly. OP was fine to use her hazards. She was letting other driver's know to be alert to something hazardous to them.

You can't indicate and use hazards at the same time as your hazards are your indicators afaik.

The main problem here today was it's foggy but not badly foggy. Visibility was definitely greater than 100m and people had on fog lights. Or no lights. One extreme to the other. Also scary how many relied on driving lights so no lights at the back.

Ah right thank you, I didn't realise hazard lights were the same as indicators.

I'm now all the more grateful for the guy who flashed me across, truly, for being a champ at reading the road.

Haven't you ever checked your hazards are in working order since you first owned a car? If not you really should make it a part of your regular car checks. Is it not still something you need to learn for Show Me Tell Me or have they scrapped that from the driving exams?

I could see they flashed. What else do I need to check please?

Presumably you couldnt see them flashing from the inside of the car!

Basic checks like tyre tread, all lights are working when they should be, wipers wiping like they should be, oil check

You need to be really careful at reading into someone else flashing you, you have no idea often why someone is flashing you and you could think one thing and end up driving into danger, always make your own decisions, dont be waved by, or flahsed and inimidated into making an action that might not be right.

I'd say keeping up with traffic is always safer because nobody has to brake suddenly if they turn around a bend and come upon you. Also, nobody is forced to change lanes.

Going slowly on the motorway because a car wasn't roadworthy - not ok. If it was just a broken window, that driver could have driven with the window open. If the door was held on with duct tape - stay home, get towed to the repair shop.

He read the situation right and did a courteous and safe thing.

Only use your indicators if indicating is your intention. The hazards are for specific circumstances only.

Yeah I don't know why he was driving like that, he had his reasons I'm sure, the entire window was gone, but he was driving really slow and I needed to pass him.

Only use your indicators if indicating is your intention. The hazards are for specific circumstances only.

See that's what I thought I was doing. I was indicating my intention (to overtake) and put my hazards on for the specific circumstance that the car in front was going slow. I honestly didn't realise that this was the wrong thing to do.

What should I have done?

@SpookySingingDoll are you sure he was letting you out, or using them correctly to warn you he was there as you pulled out in front of him.

If you had hazards on the indicator would not be apparent. The car in the next lane would not have known that you were pulling out - I suspect that is why he flashed you.
And going at 70 in thick fog was obviously too fast if you had to slam the brakes on because you didn't see a slow-moving vehicle until the last minute.
If it's thick enough to need fog lights, you need to lower your speed.

Upon rereading (again) my earlier post Ive realized I sound like I shouldn't be on the road.@HundredMilesAnHour I assume it was my post you were horrified with 😅

To be clearer: I don't drive faster in fog to keep up with others. I was more trying to say i find it easier to drive at a higher speed (but not high speed) when others are ahead making the road easier to navigate as there are more guide points available. I don't think that because I can't see where I'm going I should hurtle along to keep up. But I'm not sure I'm being clear or sounding safe so I will stop trying to explain before the DVLA come for me

As you've only been driving for a relatively short time, you can always book a driving lesson to address any particular concerns. I know you'll be highly unlikely to have a lesson in fog, but it would help you build confidence and have strategies.