by Maren Johnson
Staff Writer
“Fog Happens” graces much of the Sewanee bookstore’s goods. One moment the weather is ideal, the next it may become dreary and opaque, almost like walking through a cloud. As the seasons change, it is important to remain aware of those around us. According to the Sewanee Police, there have already been several complaints about people nearly being hit by drivers. To avoid this, the Police suggest not cutting behind cars and remaining on sidewalks. Perhaps most important though, is using the crosswalks. Drivers should expect people to be walking there and so tend to be more cautious in these spots. The field of vision for both pedestrians and drivers is much greater here than in the shortcuts that students take, allowing more time for the brain to register how far a car or a walker is away. Walkers need to be conscious of their surroundings.
However, the same goes for drivers. On misty mornings, drivers should use their headlights. According to the Tennessee Department of Safety, headlights must be used not only at night, but also “at any other time when daylight is not good enough for you to see persons or vehicles clearly at a distance of 200 feet ahead.” That means if you cannot see two-thirds of a football field in front of your car, you need to have your headlights on. It can also help pedestrians see where you are; in heavy fog, a car moving at 30 mph quickly comes up on you as you walk down the street.
To curb the possibilities of dangerous situations, Chief Eldridge said, “the Sewanee Police will continue to run radar and anyone exceeding the speed limit will be issued a citation. Drivers please slow down!”
Safety in nasty weather is dependent on both drivers and the people around them. As such, it is vital that Sewanee residents keep safety in mind while moving around campus. Fog happens, but we can be smart about it too.