On Easter Sunday, a terrible series of crashes happened on I-77 in Fancy Gap, VA, which is an interstate that I’m very familiar with and travel often. Virginia State Police determined 95 vehicles wrecked in 17 separate crashes within a mile span near the base of Fancy Gap Mountain, near the North Carolina state line. Three people were killed and 25 were injured. Some of the news sites that I read blamed the fog for the crashes. Safety directors and insurance investigators are more than likely not going to accept the fact that the fog caused the accidents. As professional drivers, we are expected to handle these situations safely just like any other challenge that we may face.
Fog doesn’t allow for the kind of warning that a winter storm does. For up to three days prior, meteorologists seem like they are scaring the heck out of us about an approaching snow storm. But in the case of fog, we don’t delay our trip to avoid it because it’s not as predictable and we don’t know how bad it is until we’re in it. Fog can strike anywhere, but it can be expected in certain mountain passes like Fancy Gap. To the right are pictures taken from WDBJ7.com, the local CBS affiliate that covered the crash.
Here are a few safety reminders to help reduce the chance you will be involved in a fog related crash.
- Firstly, identify early warning indicators. These might be electronic warning signs used on interstates. They’re usually positioned in areas that are identified as higher risk due to the number of crashes that have happened there. If you don’t have a NOAA weather radio band on your FM or CB, get one. I use mine often and if there’s a possibility of fog in the area, it’s usually identified as such on the weather radio band.
- Make sure your headlights are on and use your fog lights as well. By the way, this is what fog lights are for; they’re not made for normal driving conditions, but I see drivers blinding others with them in normal driving conditions all the time.
- Use your hazard lights (4 way flashers), the blinking makes it easier for vehicles to see you from the rear.
- Roll your window down; you may be able to hear tires squealing, horns blowing, etc.
- Here’s the big one, communicate on your CB to the other truckers around you and listen. That’s what the CB’s are for. I’m convinced that crash on Fancy Gap could’ve been reduced if there was more communication coming down the mountain on the CB’s.
- Finally, if you have managed to safely stop because of a fog related crash to your front, you are still in the danger zone as other vehicles are coming behind you. Personally, I have determined that if I don’t feel safe where I come to a stop, I will exit my vehicle and take cover well behind a guard rail or trees if the situation will allow me. That’s something to consider if this happens to you. Usually for trucks, it’s safer to stay inside your cab, however if I were in a car, I would definitely take cover away from the road.
I hope we never find ourselves in the situation the drivers on I-77 were in on Easter Sunday. However, chances are if we’re out here long enough, we probably will. The above techniques will reduce your chances of being in a fog related crash. If you have some that I didn’t mention, please share them below. Stay safe. Ever Forward!