35.25. When driving in fog, the distance to objects appears:
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This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns driving safety in difficult weather conditions when visibility is limited. In fog, contrast and clarity of outlines decrease, light is scattered, and road landmarks are perceived worse. Because of this “haze,” a driver may incorrectly assess the road situation, which directly affects the choice of speed, following distance, and braking timing.
The question tests the section of the Traffic Rules regarding driving in conditions of insufficient visibility (terms in p. 1.10), as well as practical requirements for safe speed and distance (pp. 12.1, 12.2, 13.1). The essence is that in fog, objects appear farther away than they actually are: the brain interprets blurriness as a sign of greater distance. Therefore, the option where the distance is perceived as greater corresponds to the real features of visual perception in fog and the logic of these traffic rules.
The other options are not suitable, because underestimation or “true” assessment of distance in fog is not typical: on the contrary, it is precisely the overestimation of distance by eye that creates the risk of a delayed reaction, especially to headlights, the dimensions of a vehicle ahead, or a sudden obstacle. For the theoretical exam, it is important to remember the practical conclusion: in fog, you must consciously adjust your behavior according to the traffic rules, reduce your speed so you can stop within the visible distance, and increase your following distance, not relying on your “sense of distance.”
Clause 1.10 (term "Insufficient visibility")
Insufficient visibility — visibility of the road in the direction of travel is less than 300 m in twilight, fog, rain, snowfall, etc.
Brief application: fog is directly classified by the Traffic Rules as a condition of insufficient visibility, in which the driver must act with increased caution (in particular, adjust speed and following distance due to poorer visual perception).
Clause 12.1
When choosing a safe speed within the established limits, the driver must take into account the road situation, as well as the characteristics of the cargo being transported and the condition of the vehicle, in order to be able to constantly control its movement and drive it safely.
Clause 12.2
At night and in conditions of insufficient visibility, the speed must be such that the driver can stop the vehicle within the visible distance of the road in the direction of travel.
Brief application: in fog (insufficient visibility), the Traffic Rules directly require choosing a speed that allows stopping within the actual visible distance; this is due to the fact that in fog, the driver may misjudge the distance to objects.
Clause 13.1
The driver, depending on the speed, road situation, characteristics of the cargo being transported, and the condition of the vehicle, must maintain a safe following distance and safe lateral interval.
Brief application: in foggy conditions, the risk of misjudging the distance to objects increases, so the Traffic Rules' requirement for a safe distance/interval becomes critical.
Clause 19.1
At night and in conditions of insufficient visibility, dipped or main beam headlights must be switched on in motor vehicles.
Clause 19.4
Fog lights may be used in conditions of insufficient visibility, as well as at night on unlit sections of roads together with dipped or main beam headlights.
Clause 19.5
Rear fog lamps may only be switched on in conditions of insufficient visibility.
Brief application: these clauses emphasize that fog is considered by the Traffic Rules as special driving conditions (insufficient visibility) that require additional marking of the vehicle and more cautious driving.
That is, the correct answer is "Greater than in reality," given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, fog is a condition of insufficient visibility (clause 1.10), and in such conditions the driver is required to drive taking into account limited visibility, choosing a safe speed (clauses 12.1, 12.2) and safe following distance (clause 13.1), since visual perception of distance in fog is less accurate.
During fog, the driver is moving in conditions of insufficient visibility. The Traffic Rules (section 1.10) state that insufficient visibility occurs when the visibility of the road in the direction of travel is less than 300 m, including in fog. This means you see the road situation worse than usual, and the risk of misjudging the situation increases.
Fog acts like a "haze": the outlines of objects become blurred, contrast decreases, and light is scattered. Because of this, the visual cues we usually use to determine distance (sharpness of edges, color differences, detail) do not work correctly. The brain perceives the object as if there is a larger "layer of air" between you and it, and therefore concludes that the object is farther away than it actually is.
For example, in fog, the headlights of an oncoming car or the taillights of a car ahead may appear distant, even though the vehicle has already approached a dangerous distance. The same applies to stationary obstacles: it may seem that there is still enough space to a parked car or pedestrian, but in fact, the time for reaction and braking is much less.
That is why in fog it is important to reduce speed, increase distance, and monitor the situation more carefully using road markings and the edge of the carriageway, not relying only on "judging distance by eye."
Therefore, the correct answer is "Greater than in reality," because in fog, due to light scattering and blurred outlines, distance estimation worsens, and objects appear to the driver to be farther away than they actually are.