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By Glenna Jarvis - The Madera Tribune

In the San Joaquin Valley, residents experience a fifth season each year; Fog season. Every year, the California Highway Patrol issues warnings about the dangers of driving in dense fog, and almost every year, a collision someplace in the Central Valley ends with the tragic loss of life.

Public Affairs Officer for the Madera CHP unit, Dan Freeman said driving in the Tule fog is like driving blind.

"Here's the million dollar question," Commander, Lt. Dave Paris, said. "How do we get people to slow down in the fog? You can tell them and tell them and tell them, they'll drive by traffic accidents, then they speed right back up."

Officers will not drive any faster than the conditions allow them to respond to collisions, he added.

"If we don't make it, what good are we?" he said.

When November rolls around, the CHP dispatch center asks patrol officers on an hourly basis what the fog conditions are, Freeman said, and log that information. The pace program is initiated when visibility is less than 500 feet. This is when CHP officers escort traffic through the fog, Freeman said.

"When it gets to a level of 500 feet (of visibility) or less, we'll drive around with those ambers (lights) on, and slow them down," Freeman said.

He added that all drivers need to do is drive at the recommended speed, turn their lights on, and keep a safe distance between them and the car in front of them.

Keeping track of foggy conditions is a combined effort between CHP, Caltrans, and the Traffic Management Center in Fresno. The departments utilize the two roadside weather stations as well as visibility cameras and message signs.

They also use low powered AM radio stations, Freeman said.

"Most roads here have that fog line," Freeman added. "They have those at off ramps. If you're having trouble finding that ramp, you have that three-two-one countdown. As you approach an off ramp, you will see those white reflectors. Three in a row, you go a little further and you'll see two, then a little further and you'll see one. Usually when you see that one, you can start moving to the right, and there's the off ramp."

The most common problems officers see is speeding in the fog, Paris said, and following too close. While there is a driving formula based on visibility, the thing to remember, Freeman said, is driving in the fog is like driving blindfolded.

"Would you want to drive with a blindfold on?" he said. "It's the same analogy."

"When you perceive some kind of danger, it's going to take you a second and a half to start stopping that car," Freeman said. "They say it takes three quarters of a second just to perceive that 'hey there's a problem', and another three quarters of a second to react to it, get your foot on the break, and start to slow down. If your speed's too great, you can stop in time."

"At 70 miles per hour, you're traveling approximately 115 to 120 feet per second," he said. "You're going to travel 120 feet every second, and it takes you a second and a half to begin stopping - You can see how these distances are really working against you."

Freeman has seen, while working on State Route 152 on foggy nights, cars traveling in excess of 80 mph.

"We can't even see the vehicle, but the radar tells us there's a fast car coming," he said. "It's going 85, 90, 95 miles an hour."

"I also have a family at home," Freeman said. "And I'm not going to take that risk to drive 110, 120 when I should only be driving 45 to 50 miles an hour. Unfortunately, we can't take any enforcement."

These are the people, he added, who killed others in fog-related collisions.

Other ways to avoid problems, Freeman said, is to leave earlier to allow more driving time, or, if possible, wait until the fog has lifted. Another important thing to remember is that the fog is not disbursed in an even layer: While there could be light fog in and around Madera, visibility near Chowchilla could be as little as 150 feet.

Caltrans and the CHP began their Operation Fog program in 1991, according to information provided by the departments. This program was designed to make people aware of the unique conditions in the Central Valley, and hopefully reduce the number of fog related collisions and deaths.

Dangers of fog

- Driving in fog is comparable to driving while wearing a blindfold

- Fog creates the most dangerous driving conditions because of zero visibility

- Statistically, fog related accidents carry the highest fatality rates

- Unsafe driving speeds in foggy conditions drastically reduce safe stopping distances and reaction times

- Unsafe drivers do not compensate for reduced visibility conditions

Fog driving tips

- Reduce speed to allow safe stopping distance

- Drive with your headlights on low beam - Never drive using only your parking or fog lights

- Avoid crossing traffic or busy intersections whenever possible

- Listen for traffic you cannot see

- Use windshield wipers and the defroster to improve visibility

- Be patient - Don't pass long lines of traffic in fog

- If visibility diminishes to the point that you can no longer proceed, don't stop in the traveled lanes. Attempt to utilize the closest off ramp which will afford you a safe location to stop and wait for the fog to clear, or steer to the right and onto the shoulder (further to the right if safe and practical), turn off your lights and remain stopped until visibility improves

- If your car stalls or is disabled, turn off your lights, exit your vehicle and move away from it to avoid injury

- Call the Caltrans Highway Information Network at 1-800-427-ROAD for the latest highway condition information

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Glenna Jarvis For the Madera Tribune The Madera Tribune The Madera Tribune online subscription To subscribe or log on, CLICK HERE. For more information first, CLICK HERE.