| Located in one of the country's largest farming | | | | Fresno's fog problems but scientists anticipate the |
| areas and as the city nearest Yosemite National | | | | area's weather to become even more volatile as |
| Park, Fresno would seem like a tranquil place to | | | | climate change begins to manifest itself in very |
| live. Fresno personal injury lawyers however say | | | | real ways. |
| that they see a number of accident injuries | | | | In October 2009, California's first storm resulted in |
| among its half a million residents each year. | | | | record rainfall in Fresno which led to flooded roads |
| The California Highway Patrol reported that 24 | | | | and downed trees which made driving conditions |
| people were killed in Fresno car accidents in 2007, | | | | even deadlier. |
| while 1,385 others were injured. It also reported | | | | Researchers from California State University's |
| that 10 pedestrians were killed while walking on | | | | Fresno Institute of Climate Change, Oceans and |
| Fresno's streets, while 139 others were injured. | | | | Atmosphere said the area could expect more |
| Three cyclists and two motorcyclists were also | | | | unpredictable weather in the form of prolonged |
| killed during 2007. | | | | heat spells, severe smog levels and increased risk |
| Fresno's susceptibility to fog makes the city even | | | | of wildfires. Fresno personal injury attorneys say |
| more vulnerable to accidents, more so than other | | | | they expect to see more accident injuries if the |
| cities nationwide. Studies show that in January, | | | | city cannot cope with the changing circumstances. |
| Fresno's fog can get so thick that less than half | | | | Fresno Personal Injury Lawyers Urge Motorists to |
| of daylight hours are actually in sunlight. | | | | Practice Safe Fog Driving |
| Researchers also said that Fresno once went | | | | In a bid to make Fresno's roads safer and cut |
| over two weeks clouded in heavy fog from Dec. | | | | down on accident injuries resulting from |
| 13, 1985 to Dec. 28, 1986. | | | | fog-related accidents, Fresno officials have taken |
| Fresno Fog Leads to Chain Reaction Accidents, | | | | a number of measures. For example, Fresno |
| Massive Pileups, Major Injuries | | | | police have advised drivers to not only look for |
| In November 2007, safety officials and rescuers | | | | traffic, but to listen for it as well. This means that |
| scrambled to deal with a massive pileup on | | | | in foggy conditions, drivers should stop at stop |
| Highway 99 where as many as 100 cars crashed | | | | signs on intersections, turn off their engines and |
| into each other in two-foot visibility. A 6-year-old | | | | radios and perk their ears for the sounds of any |
| boy and a 28-year old man were killed in the | | | | crossing traffic to make up for the decreased |
| series of accidents, which also included 9 big rigs. | | | | visibility. Officials also urge motorists to use their |
| Dozens more suffered mild to serious personal | | | | low beams even during the day. |
| injuries and several became trapped in their | | | | Other possible measures include a ban on |
| vehicles. | | | | semi-trucks and big rigs on Highway 99 during the |
| Just three months after, Highway 99 again | | | | heavy fog season. Locals who know of Fresno's |
| became the scene of another horrific pileup which | | | | fog problems are also urging officials to enact |
| saw 18 vehicles piled up in a chain reaction | | | | seasonal speed limits and to impose higher fines |
| accident in Fresno's dense fog. At least 10 people | | | | for hazardous drivers. |
| were injured in the pileup and rescuers worked | | | | On the scientific front; government officials, |
| for hours to free one woman who was pinned | | | | scientists and the auto industry are also |
| unconscious in her car. | | | | considering installing a wireless system that would |
| And in October 2009, a man who was merely | | | | have the ability to communicate messages and |
| directing traffic around the scene of a car | | | | fog-related warnings to motorists. This system |
| accident on Auberry Road was killed when he | | | | could use weather data culled from Caltrans |
| was struck down by a motorist who was unable | | | | weather sensors that measure wind, speed, dew |
| to see him through the heavy fog. | | | | point, air moisture and pavement temperatures as |
| Climate Change Will Lead to More Dangerous | | | | well satellites and wire systems along highways to |
| Driving Conditions, Accidents | | | | send warnings regarding dangerous driving |
| Safety officials are deeply concerned about | | | | conditions, particularly in fog hot spots. |