Published on Sunday, March 19, 2006
in the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

Weather can make driving a challenge

Driving in South Florida is tough enough, but add fog, smoke or rain to the mix and it can become a real mess.

When weather plays a factor, Florida Highway Patrol officials advise drivers to always do three things: turn your headlights on, slow down and increase the distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you.

Whether to pull over to the side of the road is up to the driver. "Some people like to keep driving while others prefer to pull over," said Sgt. Mark Wysocky. "It's a personal thing. Nothing says you have to pull over."

For those who choose to get off the roadway, he had some recommendations.

"If you pull over, try to get off at a rest area, an exit ramp or boat ramp area," Wysocky said. "Be careful when pulling off. Don't wait until the last minute because people will not see you." Motorists who continue to drive should not use their flashing lights.

"It indicates the car is stopped and confuses all the traffic," Lt. Pat Santangelo said. Thick fog recently caused a multi-vehicle pileup on U.S. 27, after two semitrailers initially crashed into one another. Five people were hurt in several crashes that stretched over a half-mile of the rural highway.

Fog is typically seasonal, most often found January to March. It usually occurs between 4 and 9 a.m., especially in low-lying rural areas or along the coast or waterways, said Brad Diehl, forecaster for the National Weather Service.

Patches of fog sometimes appear without warning and can be so thick that motorists become blinded by the reflection of their own headlights, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Smoke from brush fires is another visual difficulty for drivers.

"You never know which way the wind will shift, and a brush fire can occur anytime, so you may not even know smoke is ahead," Santangelo said. "Vehicles can also be stopped in the road or there might be a crash."

Rain is the most prevalent of weather conditions, with the season running roughly from late May or early June to November, Diehl said.

"The majority of crashes in rain are not because of visibility, but caused if people don't slow down and take into account the wet roads ... they can't stop quickly," Wysocky said. "Make sure you have good tread on the tires. Smooth tires don't stop as easily, and you can end up rear ending someone or hydroplaning."

On one rainy day in Miami-Dade County, Santangelo said there were 100 crashes in a 24-hour period. "There's no reason in a heavy downpour to go over 40 mph on the highway," he said. "Other traffic may be doing 20 or 30 mph."

He recommended following the rule of one car length for every 10 miles per hour.