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Sunshine Skyway Bridge reopens as fog lifts

By FOX 13 News staff
Published  March 17, 2016 11:29am EDT
News
FOX 13 Tampa Bay
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TAMPA (FOX 13) - The Sunshine Skyway Bridge has reopened after being closed Thursday morning due to fog in the area.

It was the second time the bridge had to shut down this week.

FOX 13’s Dave Osterberg said visibility for those near the bridge was lower than 100 feet as of 5 a.m., making it hazardous to drive on the bridge.

The Florida Highway Patrol has released the following safety tips for driving with low visibility:

Visibility can change within seconds, so use extreme caution when driving. Wildfires, smoke, fog and heavy rain can all lower visibility on the roads. It is important for drivers to drive as safely as possible in these conditions.

  • DRIVE WITH LIGHTS on low beam. High beams will only be reflected back off the fog and actually impair visibility even more. Your lights help other drivers see your vehicle, so be sure they all work. Keep your windshield and headlights clean, to reduce the glare and increase visibility.
  • SLOW DOWN and watch your speedometer – before you enter a patch of fog. Be sure that you can stop within the distance that you can see. Fog creates a visual illusion of slow motion when you may actually be speeding. Speed is a major factor in fog-related crashes.
  • WATCH OUT for slow-moving and parked vehicles. Listen for traffic you cannot see. Open your window a little, to hear better.
  • REDUCE THE DISTRACTIONS in your vehicle. Turn off the radio and cell phone. Your full attention is required.
  • USE WIPERS AND DEFROSTERS liberally for maximum visibility. Sometimes it is difficult to determine if poor visibility is due to fog or moisture on the windshield.
  • USE THE RIGHT EDGE of the road or painted road markings as a guide.
  • BE PATIENT. Avoid passing and/or changing lanes.
  • SIGNAL TURNS well in advance and brake early as you approach a stop.
  • DO NOT STOP on a freeway or heavily traveled road. You could become the first link in a chain-reaction collision. If you must pull off the road, signal (people tend to follow tail lights when driving in fog), then carefully pull off as far as possible. After pulling off the road, turn on your hazard flashers(hazard lights should only be used when you pull over to show that you are parked on the side of the road). Move away from the vehicle.