Fog Erase’s Reaction Time 

February 5, 2026 – Merced CHP officials report that on Wednesday morning, officers responded to a two-vehicle collision involving commercial vehicles in dense fog, where visibility was reduced to less than 200 feet.

In these conditions, speed becomes a liability. Fog shortens sightlines, flattens depth perception, and hides stopped traffic until there is no room to recover. Drivers who fail to slow down or adjust following distance are driving beyond what conditions allow. High beams compound the problem by reflecting light back at the driver, while low beams and reduced speed keep vehicles within visible stopping distance.

Fog is not an inconvenience. It is a warning. When visibility drops, the only safe response is to change how you drive.

Source & photos: Merced CHP