If you are planning to travel to the Gatlinburg area, AAA makes the following recommendations:
- Contact your travel agent, hotel or property management office to ensure lodging is available.
- Check local media for updates.
- Check with local emergency management officials and adhere strictly to all evacuation orders.
- Learn the recommended evacuation route.
- Pack an emergency kit.
- Let someone know your plans.
“Fog and smoke appear to play a major role in fatal multi-vehicle pileups, and are listed as a factor in nearly one-in-five crashes involving 10 or more vehicles,” Antrican said pointing to a AAA traffic safety report. “In addition fog-involved crashes resulted in more serious injuries than crashes in clear visibility conditions.”
According to the study, smoke- and fog-related fatal crashes are highest between midnight and 5:59 a.m. and 6 to 11:59 a.m. when the temperature is generally coolest and water vapors can condense into droplets – creating foggy conditions. These are times when visibility is generally already compromised due to poor lighting. Fog- and smoke-related crashes are greater in rural areas.
About the Author