Safe Driving in Fog

Auto · Originally published February 20, 2015 · Updated November 2026

If you drive early in the morning around Springfield, Branson or Joplin, you've probably dropped down a hill into a wall of fog. Low spots along rivers, creeks and lakes such as the James River, Lake Taneycomo and Table Rock Lake tend to fog up on cool, calm mornings, especially in spring and fall. Visibility can go from fine to almost nothing in a few hundred feet.

Slow down before you're in it

The biggest fog mistake is driving at normal speed into a cloud you can't see through. When you see fog ahead or notice the road dipping toward a valley:

• Ease off the gas early. Drive slowly enough that you could stop within the distance you can actually see.
• Increase your following distance well beyond normal. Brake lights appear late in fog.
• Avoid passing. Oncoming headlights may not be visible until it's too late.
• Watch your speedometer. Fog makes it hard to judge speed, and many drivers creep back up without realizing it.

Use the right lights

• Use low beams. High beams reflect off the water droplets and make it harder to see.
• Use fog lights if your car has them, in addition to low beams.
• Make sure your lights are actually on. Many cars have automatic daytime running lights that don't turn on your taillights. Switch your headlights on manually so drivers behind you can see you.
• Keep the glass clear. Run the defroster and wipers to deal with moisture on both sides of the windshield.

Find your way

• Use the right edge line or painted fog line as a guide. Following the center line can drift you toward oncoming traffic.
• Turn down the radio and silence your phone so you can concentrate. Cracking a window can help you hear traffic at intersections and rural crossings.
• Be extra alert for deer. Dawn and dusk fog overlaps with the times deer are most active on rural Ozarks roads. Our article on deer collisions in Missouri covers what to do and how insurance handles it.

When visibility drops to near zero

If you truly can't see, the safest thing is to get off the road.

• Signal and pull as far off the road as you can, ideally into a parking lot, driveway or exit, not just the shoulder.
• Once stopped, turn on your hazard lights and take your foot off the brake so the brake lights don't make others think you're still moving in a lane.
• Wait for the fog to lift. Morning valley fog often burns off within an hour or two.

Never stop in a travel lane. Many of the worst fog crashes involve multiple vehicles hitting a car that stopped in the road.

How insurance handles fog crashes

Fog crashes often involve more than two vehicles, and that can get complicated.

• Missouri is an at-fault state, so the driver or drivers who caused a crash are responsible for the damage. In a rear-end chain reaction, fault may be shared among several drivers.
• Liability limits matter. Missouri's minimum 25/50/25 limits can be used up quickly when several cars and people are involved. Our explainer on Missouri's 25/50/25 requirement walks through why many drivers choose higher limits.
• Collision coverage generally pays to repair your own car regardless of who caused the crash, minus your deductible.
• Uninsured motorist coverage helps if you're injured by a driver who has no insurance. See what "full coverage" means for how these pieces fit together.

Talk to a local agent

If you commute through foggy valleys, make sure your limits fit the risks. Call 417.865.4800 or visit our auto insurance page.

Common questions

Should I use high beams in fog?

No. High beams reflect off the fog and reduce what you can see. Use low beams, plus fog lights if your car has them.

Who is at fault in a chain-reaction crash in fog?

It depends on the facts, and fault can be shared among several drivers. Missouri is an at-fault state, so the drivers who caused the crash are responsible for the damage.

More from the blog

• Auto insurance
• How Out-of-State Driving Violations Affect Your Record
• How to Reduce Road Rage

All blog posts →