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Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Udit Narayan Pandey said fog has emerged as a serious threat on the roads during the winter months, increasing the chances of accidents.
“Many accidents can be avoided if drivers take some simple but necessary precautions,” he said.
Read more: ‘Extremely’ bad air quality in Delhi-NCR, anti-smog guns deployed at various places
Advising drivers to avoid traveling in fog unless absolutely necessary, Pandey said reaching the destination on time may be important, but human life is priceless.
“If traveling in fog cannot be avoided, drive slowly and exercise extreme caution,” he said.
As part of the advisory, ARTO asked drivers to keep their stereo systems or FM radios switched off so that they can hear the sounds of other vehicles on the road.
He also advised against using air conditioners while driving in foggy conditions and suggested using a light heater instead, with the air flow directed toward the windshield to prevent condensation.
He said vehicles equipped with defoggers should keep them on a slightly warmer setting.
Pandey advised drivers to keep vehicle windows slightly open to avoid excess moisture and ensure proper ventilation. Drivers were cautioned against cleaning fogged windows with their hands and were advised to use clean, dry cotton or microfiber cloths instead.
He said headlights should always be kept on low beam, even during the day if there is fog, hazard lights should be used to alert vehicles coming from behind.
Navigation applications like Google Maps can be used to stay oriented, while maintaining a safe distance from vehicles ahead and applying brakes gently, the advisory said.
ARTO also warned drivers not to overtake in fog and to be cautious around broken down vehicles or vehicles parked on the roadside.
“Fog often creates visual illusions. On two-lane roads, drive slowly and stay close to the left edge. Never drive in the middle of the road,” Pandey said. He said that on four-lane roads or in urban areas with dividers, it is safe to drive close to the divider.
For better safety, private vehicle owners were urged to stick red retro-reflective tape on the back of their vehicles.
Pandey said that under the Motor Vehicles Act, it is mandatory for commercial vehicles to have white retro-reflective tape at the front and red tape at the rear.
The district administration has appealed to all travelers to strictly follow the advisory to ensure safety of themselves and others during the current fog conditions.
In view of the winter weather conditions, authorities have already fixed the maximum speed limit at 75 kmph for light vehicles, including cars, and 60 kmph for heavy vehicles on the Noida-Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressways till February.