CHP Beefing Up Patrols In Foggy Weather

Cars lost control. One  hit  a mail box. Another  wound up  in a ditch.

Ashley Allen had just finished teaching a friend how to drive in fog.

“Making sure that he was going slow enough and he wasn't  hitting ditches or other cars or people who whatever reason didn't have their lights on,” Allen said.

When its foggy, officers tell  folks  to drive with headlights on... low beam.

And roll down windows to listen for oncoming cars.

 Leslie Campbell leaves the house half an hour earlier for work.

“I'm in no hurry. Id rather get there in one piece that not get there at all,” Campbell.

 This time of year, the Fresno CHP dispatch center takes hundreds of weather related calls a week.

CHP updates dispatchers with conditions hourly or whenever there is a major closure or adverse conditions.

Officers also have a way of slowing down traffic when visibility is under two hundred feet.

“If you happen to see a patrol car out front driving slow with lights on-they're conducting what we call pace which is to slow the motoring traffic down stay behind the officer and he'll proceed you through deep fog,” Sgt. Shane McConell said.

Allen says defensive driving is vital.

“Some of these people are crazy out here in the fog! Go slow...please.” she said.

The number to call for driving conditions is 1-800-427-ROAD.