Motorists urged to stay safe in fog after pile-up

The incident on Thursday morning at the Sheppey crossing in Kent, saw 60 people injured and the bridge closed for more than nine hours.

By Thursday afternoon fog descended on Eastbourne and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service last week issued safety advice and how to stay safe when visibility is reduced by fog, rain or spray.

The message urges drivers to use dipped headlights at all times, windscreen wipers and demisters, adding that according to the Highway Code headlights should be used when visibility is seriously reduced.

It added, ‘When there’s fog around, visibility can seriously deteriorate in a matter of seconds.

“Be extra vigilant and drive only as fast as conditions allow and maintain a greater distance between you and the car in front.’

Drivers were also advised to familiarise themselves with their front and rear fog lights and be aware of how to switch them on and off.

On Thursday night lifeboats from Eastbourne, Hastings and Newhaven were launched as a sudden sea fog caught out many inexperienced mariners unable to cope with the conditions.

Eastbourne’s all-weather lifeboat was put on standby and the inshore lifeboat was launched to search for a kayaker reported as missing by his companion.

The kayaker was found having sensibly attached himself to a channel marker and was waiting for the fog to clear before making his way back home.

Meanwhile Eastbourne’s flank stations were all involved in a variety of fog related incidents.