Posted on 5/5/2014
We receive a lot of tow calls on foggy mornings and evenings. Fog can be thought of as a cloud at ground level. It forms when the temperature drops to the dew point (the temperature at which air is saturated), and invisible water vapor in the air condenses to form suspended water droplets. Fog can reduce visibility to 1/4 mile or less, creating hazardous driving conditions. If you can't postpone your trip until dense fog lifts -- usually by late morning or the afternoon -- follow these tips: Drive with lights on low beam. High beams will only be reflected back off the fog and actually impair visibility even more. Reduce your speed and watch your speedometer. Fog creates a visual illusion of slow motion when you may actually be speeding. Listen for traffic you cannot see. Open your window a little, to hear better. Use wipers and defrosters as necessary for maximum visibility. Use the right edge of the road or painted road markings as a gui ... read more
Posted on 5/5/2014
Winter is here, and with it comes the Washington weather that always keeps us two truck operators in Mount Vernon and throughout the Valley very busy. Driving conditions are constantly changing and can be very difficult at times, even for our experienced tow truck operators. January hasn’t brought us much snow but we have had plenty of fog! It’s hard to tell which is worse! All this fog has made for some tricky driving and even more tricky tows! Recently we were called out to Bayview to pull a car out of the slough. The car’s driver had been slowly making her way through the foggy roads early one morning when she was distracted for only an instant and drove right off the road into the freezing cold slough. Thankfully a friendly stranger happened to see her drive off the road and was able call the police, who then called us. The driver escaped the car, a bit wet but unharmed, before it fully submerged. Unfortunately for Eric, our tow truck operator, the car was completel ... read more