Riding in the FOG

[rocketdoc]

Well now that fall has arrived, the fog has decended on much of the Left Coast and throughout many area we love to ride. Just thought it would be appropriate to review some of the safe riding techniques when the soup gets thick, as it was here in Victoria this morning.

Safe riding distance to allow longer reaction time, increase your following distance to a minimum of 5 seconds. If this distance does not allow you to keep the tail lights of the vehicle in front in view tighten up just enough to be able to see them if the brake lights come on.

In dense fog your rear visibility is poor, the rear tail lights on the FJR just don't cut it. However using your turn signal or 4 way flashers will dramatically increase your visibility. Just remember to cancel as soon as the vis improves. Concentration should remain divided between your #6 position and ahead to avoid suddenly being hit from behind. Riding position should change to the right side of the lane to permit exiting quickly if there is a sudden stop or incoming from #6.

Riding with a dark tint visor can make matters worse, so always have a clear in one of your saddlebags.

I am not a safety instructor, but have done alot of 'studying' in the last five years. Please feel free to chime in if you have any other suggestions/strategies that you have incorporated and would recommend.

Ride safe, ride smart!

 

[Rolavine]

I hit fog on the way in this morning too, but it wasn't bad enough to require any changes in riding style.

However, it is on the way. Use a fog city or a pinlock on your visor. You can set your head and the windscreen in a relationship that will allow enough flow of dry air to keep your visor clean without it collecting the water drops that will form on the windscreen. Sometimes you need to keep the visor open a crack to get more flow. I go slow and stay to the right where I can see the road stripe and I'm ready to pull over if I'm overtaken from behind. If you find a vehicle in front of you that isn't going too fast then you can follow them keeping their lights in view, be prepared to brake because you don't want to fall off the end of the earth with your leader.

The fog around here usually comes and goes, but sometimes I ride through 50 miles of it on my way to work. I've tried using the fog forecasts on the net but haven't had very good luck with them. Sometimes I would take the car and its body armor and air bags if I knew it was really going to be alll the way.

 

[boomerang]

Around here,Deer and farm implaments are always fun in the fog.

I hate to admit it but, I normally say a quite little prayer as I'm leaveing for work in the mornings. Hey ya never know!