Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Hamad Trauma Centre has advised road users to take extra precautions and to be ‘SHREWD’ – an acronym for a set of safety tips-during times of low visibility or foggy weather conditions.
“We are calling on road users to ensure their own safety by taking appropriate precautions during low visibility conditions, which are most common during early mornings and evenings. Due to ongoing road construction around the county, there are constant changes to road layouts and traffic flow, so commuters should be more aware of their surroundings and be extra conscious of other road users,” said Dr Rafael Consunji, director, Hamad Injury Prevention Programme (HIPP), HMC.
Last year, the Ministry of Interior reported 113 motor vehicle crashes on one particularly foggy day in January. The HIPP has recommended all road users be ‘SHREWD’ during foggy conditions.
‘S’  refers to slow down and wearing seat belt. “Driving during fog is like  driving with a blindfold. It is driving without seeing your surroundings and other road users, pedestrians, cyclists, or vehicles. This is why slowing down is the first thing to do in fog. It will allow you to avoid obstacles and braking without notice. In the event of a crash or a sudden stop, passengers and drivers using a seat belt dramatically reduce their risk of serious injury or death,” said Dr Consunji.
‘H’ is  turn on your headlights. In low visibility conditions, one must do their utmost to be seen by other road users. Turning on the vehicle’s headlights to low beam is one way to ensure this is achieved. A common error is to turn on emergency flashers or hazard lights to increase visibility. Don’t use the emergency flashers or hazard lights unless pulling off the road to park the vehicle, which  should be done if visibility is decreasing rapidly or if dense fog reduces visibility. 
‘R’  refers to wearing  reflectors or high visibility gear. Wearing high visibility clothing such as reflective vests or bright colours, or attaching a light to the bicycle or carrying a torch or flashlight will make a pedestrian or cyclist more noticeable in low-visibility conditions. 
‘E’ is expect delays and give oneself a head start. Speeding and reckless driving in low visibility conditions increases the chance of being involved in a motor vehicle crash. Starting the journey earlier will enable to arrive in a timely manner and without speeding.
‘W’ is clear all windows and keep them partially rolled down. Make sure that  windows and mirrors are clean before the trip, and use defroster and wipers to keep them clear. For faster defogging, use the air conditioner with the temperature set to ‘hot’. This will also clear condensation from windows. Open the windows during times of very low visibility so that motorists  can hear oncoming vehicles. 
‘D’ is distractions which must be avoided. Low-visibility conditions demand that a driver be able to use all the  senses. Avoid distractions such as mobile phones or the stereo and pay full attention to the road conditions.


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