Fog-bound Beats

[retchp]

I never actually had to work a BIG FOG CRASH involving many vehicles. I did help out in quite a few. the biggest one involved (I'm guessing) hundreds of vehicles and stretched from the Yolo Causeway west of West Sacto all the way back to the Pioneer Bridge (at downtown Sacto with the backlog. That is miles long for those that are unfamiliar with the area.
My job was to run round robins to prevent additional crashes. We had units from Woodland, N. Sac, S. Sac and I think Solano involved. Took most of the day to get it untangled and totally opened up.
Thank god for people who really know their diagramming stuff. I would not even know how to begin to diagram such a scene as that. Maybe XMAIT knows???
As for working it...I kind of liked it. When the fog comes the motors go to cars, the air ops is down and everyone is in a car. It is quiet and peaceful (unless there is a crash). It is not too bright to try to write tickets. I once had a car pass me as I drove along at about 35 in heavy fog, which was probably too fast. I tried to stop it, but even though I immediately lit up to code three status he was gone in a few seconds and I never saw the vehicle again. I quit trying after about a half mile.
Dangerous, scary and a little bit fun is how I remember it. I do know that living in it takes its toll too. After a couple of weeks you just have to go to the high country on a day off or you will get cabin fever. It is very depressing to live in.

[Welpe]

Can I ask a question? What are round robins? Is that when a CHP officer slows down and paces traffic?

[Your Mentor]

I have a request from a shy member of our forum for information, insight, or just thoughts about what it's like to work in an area where fog is routine. I've worked in sand storms but fog isn't very common in the desert so I'm ill-equipped to answer the question. So how do you work it? I can't imagine actively patrolling in the fog. What are the common problems, can you write tickets safely, what kind of crashes do you get, how does it affect your commute, etc. Oh, and how have you adapted to patrolling a fog-bound beat.

[Tom]

We had fog OT, running round robins for the very common 22350 tc's. Maintaining an "air" of visibility with rear ambers on sometimes on the shoulder. I would write the occassional 21703 cite, waiting to clear the fog-bound area. Very similar to heavy rain days as far as commute and enforcement goes......ie....just get out of sight and wait for the inevitable calls. Court testimony was based on the very common 20-50 feet visibility. I adapted by getting the heck out of Dodge!!!!!!

Tom

[RoadDawg]

Well?? As someone who works in the Central Valley, I can say Ive seen some real bad fog! I-5 and SR-99 have had some of the worst pileups in our Nation?s history, due to fog. How do you work in it..? You don?t! (Of course Im talking about less than 250 feet visibility, not a just some haze) The best and safest thing to do is park, and wait for the accidents to come out. Then respond as safely as possible, you cant help anyone, if you don?t get there. An officer should not even think of writing tickets, do to the fact people are either attracted to your lights, or over react to them. Most crashes are intersection ones, where someone runs a stop sign. Ive seen guys running down the road, waving flares to warn motorist, only to see cars still continue pass, and plow into each other. The bottom line is, people will not slow down, and people needlessly die every winter.

On tip is to use your radar in the stationary mode while driving, this will at least warn you if something is ahead. The fog is by far, the most dangerous weather Ive worked in, you cant see where the threat is coming from, and theres nothing to slow people down.

[redhead]

Can I ask a question? What are round robins? Is that when a CHP officer slows down and paces traffic?Round robins are a continuing series of traffic breaks designed to slow down traffic. Other Officers may go as far away as several miles to start a traffic break. They will slow the traffic down; and, keep it slow until they pass the scene of the problem. The Officer will then go back, and do it again.

[Welpe]

Thanks, red. I thought it was something like that but I wasn't sure.

[redhead]

Thanks, red. I thought it was something like that but I wasn't sure. I was unclear too, but my friend Google helped me :smile:

[Welpe]

D'oh....guess I should've tried that. I didn't even think about it this time. :shock:ops: