Merced-area California Highway Patrol officers responded Wednesday morning to a collision between two commercial vehicles in dense fog that reduced visibility to less than 200 feet, officials said.

CHP officers warned that fog can drastically limit reaction time, flatten depth perception, and obscure stopped traffic until it’s too late to avoid a crash.

Drivers who fail to slow down or adjust following distance are operating beyond safe conditions, the agency said. High beams can worsen visibility, while low beams and slower speeds help maintain safe stopping distance.

“Fog is not an inconvenience. It is a warning,” the CHP said. “When visibility drops, the only safe response is to change how you drive.”

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