Pasco police traffic officers are reminding drivers to make sure they're using their headlights when it's foggy, raining or snowing outside.
Winter weather conditions create limited visibility situations, and using headlights can help prevent crashes, Officer Sean Granger said.
State law also requires drivers to use their headlights when visibility is 1,000 feet or less.
A ticket for not using headlights in low-visibility conditions costs $124.
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Traffic laws
Traffic laws
Regarding the article in the Nov. 13 Herald about winter driving, headlined, "Remember headlights when driving in fog."
State laws require drivers to turn on their headlights when weather conditions reduce visibility to less than 1,000 feet, as stated by a Pasco traffic officer.
I am a driver for a local company and see this law broken constantly during adverse conditions by city, state, government and privately owned vehicles. I drive with my headlights on, on my work truck every day, all weather conditions, to let other drivers see me.
Police remind drivers about good habits during bad weather
Police remind drivers about good habits during bad weather
Dense fog that covered the Tri-Cities on Friday morning was the first sign from Mother Nature that motorists need to brush up on winter driving safety tips.
Visibility varied around town -- it was less than a mile at the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco at times -- but not all drivers remembered to turn on their headlights.
Using headlights when it's foggy may not always help improve visibility for the driver, but it helps others see other vehicles on the road, law enforcement officials said.
Boy chasing bus killed in Wapato in hit-and-run
Boy chasing bus killed in Wapato in hit-and-run
An 11-year-old boy running to catch a school bus was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver Friday morning in Wapato.
Washington State Patrol Lt. Terry Liebrecht said the boy was waiting at the bus stop when he was briefly summoned home by his father. The boy was hit by a pickup when he re-crossed the road. The boy's father and several other children at the bus stop saw it happen.
The Yakima Herald-Republic reported the driver stopped, checked the damage to his truck, then drove off.
Fog, ice might reduce visibility this morning
Fog, ice might reduce visibility this morning
Areas of freezing fog are expected to continue until about 11 a.m. today.
Visibility might be less than a quarter mile in some places, and drivers should be prepared for a sudden reduction in visibility and icy spots on roadways, according to the National Weather Service.
Similar fog is expected in the Walla Walla Valley and the Yakima Valley, according to the National Weather Service.
Tips for safe driving in low-visibility conditions
Tips for safe driving in low-visibility conditions
- Minimize distractions. Turn off radio and avoid using phone. Buckle up and make sure your passengers are buckled up, too.
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