Riding your bike through the mountains of North Carolina can be incredibly beautiful. North Carolina boasts beautiful mountain peaks, winding roads, and a view of a lifetime at sunset. For this reason, riding down those roads is almost a right of passage for motorcycle riders the country over. There’s no denying it’s beautiful. However, there’s also no denying that these mountain roads experience a lot of fog. Riding in the fog can be quite dangerous for motorcyclists, but it doesn’t have to be. So, we’ve come up with a few tips on how to conquer those foggy roadways on your bike. That way, you don’t have to risk injury, or skip the experience altogether. Instead, just practice caution!
Foggy Roadways? How to Ride your Bike Safely
1. Reduce Your Speed
First, a driver should reduce their speed. In any poor weather conditions, the first thing to do is slow your roll. Posted speed limits are a good gauge, but they typically apply to good weather conditions rather than trying ones. So, in compromised weather conditions, you should reduce your speed accordingly. In the case of fog, it can greatly reduce the driver’s line of sight. Therefore, slow down to give yourself a longer time to respond.
2.Use Low-Beams
This is one of the most important things a driver can do while facing fog. Most people tend to turn on high beams when entering fog. It is a natural reaction because we feel the better light will allow us to see further and more clearly. But in reality, more light only makes the fog worse. The light reflects back to the driver through the fog, making it much harder to see. Therefore, use your low beams to offer just the right amount of light. Furthermore, do not forget to turn on the low beams, because those lights may be another driver’s way to identify your motorcycle.
3. Use the Right Side of the Pavement
Another thing a driver should do in fog, is use the right side of the road as a guideline. Fog can make it nearly impossible to see more than a few feet in front of you. Therefore, use the white line on the right side of the road to determine the twists and turns coming up and conquer those foggy roadways. Using the yellow line on the left side of the road may cause the driver to drift into the other lane of traffic. In addition, never stop on the roadway because other drivers may not be able to see. So stick to following the right side of the road and keep it moving.