A picture of fog on Saggian Pul in Lahore, taken on December 16. PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/EXPRESS
Dense fog will prevail over most parts of Peshawar on Thursday morning and evening. The Peshawar Meteorological office (Met) on Wednesday also predicted light rain with snowfall in isolated places in Malakand and Hazara division during the next 24 hours.
According to the Met Office, a shallow westerly wave will prevail over northern parts of the country and will move towards the east-southeast during the next 24 hours.
The weather of Abbottabad, Thandyani, Nathia Gali and Ayubia would remain cold, dry and partly cloudy with chances of light rain at night.
Officials from traffic police, National Highway (NH) & Motorway Police (MP), and Pakistan Highway Patrol issued travel advisories for motorists after blinding dense fog descended upon the province.
The weather brought visibility down to a dangerously low level, and is forecasted to remain for another two weeks.
Dos and don’ts
Lahore city traffic officer (CTO) Sohail Chaudhary advised commuters and travellers to use fog lights and activate hazard lights while driving. Chaudhary told The Express Tribune, “If you can see vehicles behind you then it’s likely they can also see you. In this case your fog lights will blind other drivers so turn them off.”
Use of demister is also recommended, advised the officer.
The CTO suggested motorists and bikers to not hang to close to the rear lights of the car in front; this increases the chance of a collision.
“Travellers really need to keep an eye on the road, and use their ears more carefully to judge traffic which cannot be seen otherwise.” Chaudhary recommended turning off loud music and avoiding other distractions such as eating, drinking or smoking. Such precautions can help avoid road traffic accidents.
Another handy tip given by the CTO is to crack those windows open; in the absence of ventilation, windscreens tend to mist up and further impair vision. Though, the CTO also advised drivers not to stick their heads out from their window for a better view as this has – on occasion – resulted in fatal accidents.
“Avoid overtaking other cars when there is fog, as it can be hard to judge space.”
Time for some reflection
National Highways and Motorway Police (N-5) Central DIG Mirza Shakil Ahmad suggested reflective stickers should be pasted on all slow-moving vehicles on the national highways to avoid accidents in fog.
NH&MP IG Zulfiqar Cheema advised people not to travel after 10pm or before 10am during fog. If it is essential to drive, install fog lights on vehicles, said Cheema. He advised a maximum speed of 60 kilometres per hour when visibility is of 100 metres.
The IG added motorists are advised to not speed up as soon as visibility returns as fog often appears in fog patches, and it could only be a few metres before they are blinded again.
He recommended drivers should stop at Motorway Police Camps if visibility drops below 50 metres.
“If encountering a sudden spot of fog, drivers should not brake immediately; instead reduce spread gradually and drive slowly,” advised Cheema.
Drivers can attain information about fog visibility and weather before their journey by calling the Motorway Police Helpline: 130.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 19th, 2013.
COMMENTS (1)
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In my opinion hazard lights should never be used until its real emergency and the vehicle is stopped and waiting for help. If everyone is using hazard lights, then how would traffic police find the vehicle which needs help. My second point is about breaking distance of the vehicle which depends on two important factors i.e. speed and weight of the vehicle. Faster and heavier vehicles cover more distance to stop than slower and lighter ones. Every driver should know the breaking distance of his or her vehicle at different speeds. Suppose a vehicle is traveling at 50 KM per hour and it covers 20 meters of distance before complete stop. In foggy conditions, when visibility is less than 20 meters, the vehicle is very likely to collide with another vehicle or person. There is no way a driver can change this rule. My request to City Traffic Administrators is to announce the reduction of speed limits according to visibility. Anyone driving faster than speed limit should be charged. We have a habit to blame conditions, roads and other factors but would never blame ourselves.