FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Drivers in the Central Valley are having their commutes clouded by patches of dense fog, and driving instructors want those on the road to stay alert.
“What I’ve seen as being a law enforcement officer in the Valley for 30 years. It’s the most important one, just to slow down.”
Rodney Cancio is an instructor with Five-O Driving School and served as a Fresno police officer for 29 years before joining the program, which is staffed entirely by former first responders.
Amid these unpredictable patches, he’s teaching his drivers how to know the road and know their limits.
“It’s just a matter of staying calm and driving within your means. If you have to turn around, go back the other way or if you have to pull over, pull over safely,” Cancio says.
Cancio tells Action News one of the most crucial steps drivers can take is knowing how and when to use their highlights.
“Use their low beams, not their high beams, not daytime running lamps. Like what I have a car on right now is daytime running lamps. It lights up the front of the car, but doesn’t light up the back of the car,” he says.
That vital advice is coming just days after a massive 59-car pileup shut down a portion of Highway 99 in Tulare County.
RELATED: Highway 99 in Tulare County reopens after 59-vehicle pileup, CHP says
Tuesday morning, the California Highway Patrol shared jarring images out of Fresno County. The hood of a silver Toyota pickup truck crumpled underneath a diesel tanker.
Fog is considered a primary factor in both crashes.
CHP Officer Anthony Daulton speaks to the narrow margins that dense fog leaves between life and death.
“The driver, earlier today, being cautious, slowing down and anticipating a hazard, potentially even though he didn’t know whether one was going to present itself, can potentially be a savior,” Daulton says.
Officer Daulton also emphasized the role speed plays in your ability to avoid an accident.
“Your stopping distance becomes exponentially longer the faster you’re driving, and take into consideration the roadway conditions being potentially wet as well,” he said. “That just makes it even longer.”
What do you do if you find yourself in one of these fog-related crashes?
Officers say it varies case by case, but you’re typically safest to remain buckled in your vehicle.
If you are confident there isn’t any oncoming traffic, then you can leave your car and get as far away from the crash site as possible.
Copyright © 2026 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.
