Driving in poor visibility conditions: safety tips for rain, fog, snow, glare and night driving

What is poor visibility?

The National Road Safety Partnership Program (NRSPP) defines poor visibility as when 'road users are not clearly visible at a distance of 100m due to unfavourable conditions'.

Common winter weather conditions like rain, fog and snow can cause poor visibility, but it’s not just the colder months that you should be wary of. Year-round conditions like sun glare, smoke and dust can also cause poor driving visibility.

In addition, driving at night presents further challenges, with reduced visibility, glare from oncoming headlights, and dimly lit streets or no lighting at all on country roads. Eyesight issues and fatigue also increase road safety risks.

More: How to improve night vision for safer driving

Why poor visibility is dangerous

Poor visibility reduces your ability to see hazards, judge distances and react in time. It also makes it harder for other drivers to see you. Combined with slippery road surfaces or visual distractions, this creates a high-risk driving environment.

Key dangers include:

• reduced reaction times
• difficulty spotting pedestrians, cyclists and wildlife
• obscured traffic lights, road signs and lane markings
• increased stopping distances
• greater likelihood of multi-vehicle accidents.

The safest approach is always to slow down, increase following distance and drive to the conditions – not just the speed limit.

"Motorists should also remember that vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycles are much more difficult to see in low visibility conditions," Morris says. 

"Those who don't adjust their driving to suit the conditions not only put themselves at high risk of an accident or injury; they are also risking the lives of others they share the road with."

More: Driving with wildlife in Victoria: how to avoid collisions and who to call for help

Seven tips for driving with poor visibility

1. Increase your distance, decrease your speed

Morris says that several factors, including visibility conditions, can impact the amount of time it takes for a driver to react once they see a hazard on the road, meaning drivers should increase their distance.

"For example, if it's raining, add one second to the minimum of three seconds, making a total of four seconds," says Morris. "If it's raining and visibility is also impaired, then add another second making the minimum five seconds."

Morris adds that there isn't a set amount you should reduce your speed by during poor visibility conditions, but it should be enough that you can keep the aforementioned amount of distance in front of your car without creating a hazard for other motorists.

2. Keep your windscreen clean

It seems obvious, but having a clean windscreen will help with visibility. A dirty windscreen can even scatter light and make glare worse. For crystal-clear results, try using glass cleaner and microfibre cloth.

Check your windscreen wipers regularly too, and make sure they're not leaving streaks (this is a sign they may need to be replaced).

3. Don't let your car fog up

Make sure you know where the demisters are located in your vehicle, and familiarise yourself with their controls before driving a new car.

You can also use your car's air conditioner to clear foggy windows, or even open windows to let the cold air clear the windscreen as a last resort. If you can't see, pull over and park the car in a safe location, and wait until the windscreen is clear before continuing to drive.

4. Use your high beams correctly

When visibility drops, it might feel instinctive to turn on your high beams to help see, but using them in the wrong conditions can make visibility worse or blind oncoming traffic.

For example, using high beams in fog, smoke and snow scatters more light back at you, making visibility worse. Instead, use your fog lights if you have them, or dim your headlights if you don't.

High beams should be reserved for when you're travelling on a dark road with no oncoming traffic, such as a country road. If you see a vehicle coming towards you, dim your high beams so you don't blind the other driver.

More: Victorian rules for using fog lights, headlights and driving lights

5. Avoid sun glare

Sun glare can cause temporary blindness while driving.

You're more likely to be affected by sun glare during the early morning and evening when the sun is low in the sky. If driving at these times, be prepared by adjusting your sun visor and keeping a pair of polarised sunglasses handy. 

6. Don't look directly into other vehicles' high beams

Do not look directly into another car's high beams. If a car with high beams on is behind you, adjust your rear vision mirror to reduce the glare.

If you see an oncoming vehicle that has forgotten to dim their high beams, use the lane markings on the left-hand side of the road to guide yourself until the other vehicle has passed.

7. Know when to pull over

If visibility worsens to the point that you can't see past your bonnet, put on your hazard lights and pull over as soon as safe to do so. Do not continue driving until visibility returns.

When to avoid driving altogether

There are times when conditions become too dangerous to drive, such as:

• extremely heavy rain causing flash flooding
• dense fog with near-zero visibility
• severe snowstorms or icy road warnings
• authorities issuing road closures.

No trip is worth risking your safety. If road or weather conditions are dangerous, it’s always best to postpone your journey until it’s safe to travel.

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