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We don't need the Meteorological Department to tell us that foggy days are going to be here for the next couple of months. Considering that the last few years have had some extremely foggy days, disrupting, rail, air and, of course, road traffic. All drivers on the road have experienced this unique phenomenon of nature in the past. Have they learnt a lesson? It seems not, considering the accidents repeated in the first few days of fog we have had this year.
Yellow light has a longer wave length than white light, which is the normal colour of the bulbs in your headlights. Get some yellow transparent wrapping paper like the halwai uses and tape it across the headlights. The yellow light will penetrate the fog easier, giving you better visibility. If you have little control over the elements outside the car, you have total control of the interior climatic conditions of the car. It is essential for you to be comfortable in the cabin and for safety all windows should be clear. Almost every car today has a H.V.A.C. (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning) system. This is designed for keeping the passengers comfortable, warm in winter and cool in summer. However, the primary concern of the H.V.A.C. system is to provide visibility to the driver. It is common to see cars on the road with the windows completely misted up, hindering visibility. To make matters worse, the driver could be wiping the interior of the windscreen with his/her hands. You will not be able to clear the glass area because the moisture cannot be removed. You will also be applying grit and grease to the glass, making it dirtier. Going in for this exercise adds another element of danger. When visibility is already restricted, your concentration is not on the road, where it should be. If you have read the owner’s manual, you will realise that it is a simple matter to defog the windows. First move; there are vents at the extreme ends of the dash-board. Point them towards the side windows. This will keep them clear. Next, move the lever that controls the flow of air to the feet and windscreen. Adjust the temperature control lever to warm or hot. The warm air to the feet will keep the whole cabin warm because hot air rises. It is not recommended to allow hot air to come out of the vents on the dash board. It comes into your face and will dry out the eyes. Move the lever to allow fresh air into the cabin. Switch on the fan to the desired speed. The last move should be to switch on the A/c. Yes, after having selected heat you must switch on the A/c. You have now a mixture of hot air plus moisture- free air, courtesy the compressor. Surprise. The cabin will be warm and comfortable, the windows fog-free and clear. It will make for safe motoring. Remember, during fog conditions, the risk of accidents increases manifold. Your level of alertness should be directly proportionate. Happy Motoring !
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SOCIETY
The easiest way to fight
fog, avoid driving on such days. If driving is a must and cannot be
avoided, drive slow. Crawl along if necessary with your lights on.
Drive on low beam because on high beam the light will be reflected
back due to the miniscule particles of water that are suspended in the
air. This happens because of the temperature difference in the air
which is cold and the ground, which is warmer. Condensation is the
result, call it fog.