Hyderabad: Sangareddy district police released a fog safety advisory after dense winter fog covered several stretches of the region. District SP Pankaj said the low-visibility conditions created serious risks for motorists. He urged people to avoid unnecessary movement when fog intensified. According to him, sharp drops in temperature during winter caused thick fog, which often spread across highways before dawn. The resulting cover made oncoming traffic difficult to detect, even on straight routes.
He explained that vehicles travelling at moderate speed were far safer on fog-hit roads. High speed left little reaction time when visibility dropped suddenly. He also noted that many motorists continued to underestimate the dangers linked to dense fog, especially when driving on long corridors like the National Highway and the Mumbai Highway. He said those stretches developed fog pockets where even headlights failed to reveal vehicles ahead.
Fog safety advisory stresses slow and cautious driving
The fog safety advisory instructed motorists to postpone highway travel between 1 am and 8 am, as fog remained heavy during those hours. Pankaj stated that thick fog during the early morning made driving unpredictable. Even vehicles that carried proper lighting were visible only at very short distances. He warned that such conditions allowed little time to brake safely. Overspeeding increased the possibility of collisions with other vehicles already moving through the fog.
He added that sudden braking at high speed caused skidding or toppling, especially on slippery winter roads. Reduced speed created more room for drivers to judge risks. Controlled movement also helped them notice vehicles coming from the opposite direction. Many accidents, he said, happened because motorists misjudged the distance of approaching traffic when fog was dense.
Motorists were advised to keep headlights and indicators switched on at all times during winter travel. The SP asked them to avoid night movement unless it was absolutely essential. He reminded drivers that fog became most intense during late-night and early-morning hours. He also stressed that helmets and seat belts were mandatory for all road users. Using them consistently improved the chances of avoiding serious injury during unexpected incidents on fog-covered roads.