Many of you have been attempting to brave the early morning fog.  Thankfully, it has not been as bad as early January of 2008 when a dense smoke from a brush fire and early morning fog created what is referred to as “superfog” - a killer combination of thick smoke and dense fog that forms under certain conditions.  This superfog created zero visibility on Interstate 4 near Lakeland resulting in the horrific 70-vehicle smashup in Polk County that killed five people and injured 38 others and shut down nearly 15 miles of I-4 between Tampa and Orlando.Superfog forms overnight, when humidity is at its highest, as dense smoke captures air moisture and quickly condenses into a ground-level cloud that flows across the landscape, blinding everything in its path.

The unusual weather anomaly is now the subject of intense study because of its threat to motorists, especially in Florida, given the state’s frequent controlled burns, high humidity and heavily traveled roadways through swaths of wildlands.

Eight accidents, including the 2008 pileup, involving superfog conditions on major Florida highways have killed 18 motorists, injured 81 others and wrecked about 110 vehicles since 1996, state climate reports show.

Safe Driving Tips:

• Drive with lights on low beam. High beams will only be reflected back off the soke and actually impair visibility even more.
• Slow down - before you enter smoke.
• Watch out for slow-moving vehicles and parked vehicles.
• Reduce distractions in your vehicle. Turn off radio and cell phone.
• Use wipers and defrosters liberally for maximum visibility. Sometimes it is hard to tell whether poor visibility is because of smoke or moisture on the windshield, especially in the early-morning hours.
• Use right edge of road or painted road markings as a guide
• Be patient. Avoid passing and/or changing lanes.
• Signal turns well in advance, brake early as you approach a stop.
• Roll your windows up. Use your air conditioner on the recirculation mode to avoid outside air.
• Do not stop on a freeway or heavily traveled road.