Sunday 4 October begins with a clear choice for drivers around Esher: leave immediately into fog, or delay a non-essential journey until visibility improves. The Met Office local forecast shows fog at 05:00, 06:00, 07:00 and 08:00, with very poor visibility and temperatures around 9–10°C. Mist is expected around 09:00, then sunny conditions from about 10:00 as the afternoon warms towards 22°C. The regional forecast agrees that early fog may be slow to clear before sunny spells develop.
Use a delay-demist-drive decision
If the journey is flexible, check the latest local forecast and look beyond the driveway before choosing a departure time. A one-hour delay can be more useful than adding speed or relying on a fixed timetable. Fog can vary sharply between low ground, open roads and built-up areas, so a clear street outside the house does not prove that the whole route is clear.
If the journey cannot wait, start with the car stationary in a safe place. Clear every window, mirror and light rather than making a small viewing patch. Use the demister, heated screens and air conditioning if fitted, and remove moisture from the inside of the glass with a clean cloth. Do not move until the windscreen remains clear and the mirrors give a full view.
Use lights for visibility, not reassurance
The Highway Code says drivers should use dipped headlights when visibility is seriously reduced. Do not rely only on daytime running lights, because they may not illuminate the rear of the vehicle. Check the actual light setting before moving. Fog lights should be used only when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres, and must be switched off when visibility improves so they do not dazzle other road users.
Once moving, reduce speed enough to stop within the distance you can see clearly. Leave a larger gap, avoid following another vehicle's rear lights as a guide and expect cyclists, pedestrians or junction markings to appear later than usual. If visibility becomes worse, do not stop in a live traffic lane. Find a safe place away from moving traffic, then reassess.
Prepare for a fast-changing morning
Today's forecast is not a severe-weather warning. The practical risk is the contrast between a cold, foggy start and a warm, bright afternoon. Clean glass, working washers and sound wiper blades matter in both conditions. Low sun after fog clears can create glare on a damp windscreen, so keep sunglasses accessible and slow down before the view is compromised.
Before departure, check tyre condition, washer fluid, fuel or battery range and phone charge. Confirm the route without handling the phone while driving. Tell a family member when you expect to arrive if the journey is longer, and build in time for a safe stop rather than treating the forecast clearing time as a deadline.
JUFO foggy-morning preparation pick
JUFO 3-in-1 Roadside Breakdown Kit - £17.95
A compact kit for practical roadside preparedness, including a tyre inflator, warning triangle and high-visibility vest. Store it securely in the boot where it cannot move around, and never attempt a repair in an unsafe traffic position.
Recheck after the fog lifts
By late morning, improving visibility may make the same route much easier, but a brighter road still needs attention. Switch fog lights off as soon as conditions improve, keep a safe following distance and watch for remaining patches of mist in shaded or low-lying areas. A warm afternoon does not erase the colder start; it simply changes the checklist from fog management to glare, hydration and routine vehicle checks.
The calm plan is delay where possible, demist completely, then drive only for the view you actually have. That decision takes a few minutes and avoids turning a flexible Sunday schedule into unnecessary pressure.
Sources: Met Office London and South East England forecast; Met Office Esher hourly forecast; The Highway Code: driving in adverse weather; The Highway Code: lighting and general driving rules.
