A report was issued at 4:23 a.m. Wednesday by the National Weather Service for dense fog until 8 a.m. for Morris, Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, Monmouth, Mercer, Camden, Burlington, Ocean and Atlantic counties.

“Patchy fog this morning reduces visibility to less than a half (1/2) mile at times. Be prepared for rapid changes in visibility over short distances! Turn on your low beam headlights and leave extra space between you and the vehicle in front of you The fog should dissipate by mid-morning,” the weather service said.

Sailing in fog: safety tips from the weather service

If you must drive in fog, remember these safety precautions:

Reduce speed:

• Slow down and allow extra travel time to reach your destination safely.

Visibility matters:

• Make sure your vehicle is visible to others by using low beam headlights, which also activate your taillights. If available, use your fog lights.

Avoid high beams:

• Avoid using high beams, as they create glare, making it more difficult to see what is ahead of you on the road.

Keep a safe distance:

• Keep a considerable following distance to account for sudden stops or changes in traffic.

Stay in your lane:

• Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to stay on track.

Zero Visibility Protocol:

• In extremely dense fog where visibility is close to zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull over to a safe location, such as a local business parking lot, and pull over .

Limited parking options:

• If a designated parking area is not available, move your vehicle as far off the road as possible. Once stopped, turn off all lights except the hazard lights, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain off, minimizing the risk of others Drivers collide with your stationary vehicle.

By adhering to these weather service recommendations, you can navigate in safer foggy conditions, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring your well-being.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.