The Fog 2

Our piece on driving in fog struck a chord with a number of readers, writes Brian Byrne, one of whom noted that her scariest moments are when she meets pedestrians in such conditions who don't have any illumination.

And of course, the same applies to cyclists who are at risk enough in the dark without adequate lights and hi-viz clothing, but much more so in foggy conditions.

The problem is exacerbated if there's also an oncoming car, cutting further the vision of a driver coming up on pedestrians or cyclists.

So please do remember to wear suitably bright clothing at all times when you have to walk or cycle on the roadway. Cyclists should always have red rear lights — the flashing LED type are particularly useful. Pedestrians walking at night, but especially in fog, should carry a torch that will help them be seen.

On hi-viz items, remember that they only work at night if there's light shining directly on them. A rucksack with a reflective patch may be too high for the light of a dipped headlamp to pick it out, so it's a good idea for walkers and cyclists to wear hi-viz bands around their lower legs.

All the time in poor visibility conditions, ask yourself do you really need to make that journey in the rain or fog, especially at night? Delaying a trip is much better than never coming home from it.