Operating in Limited Visibility

Driving back to the distribution center after delivering last night’s/this morning’s load, I encountered patches of dense fog. After I arrived safely and shut down for the day, it occurred to me that sometimes in our personal lives we can also encounter “limited visibility“ and how employing some of the same strategies that can help protect professional drivers and the rest of the motoring public on a foggy highway might be helpful in getting us to where we want to go. Or at least avoid a “crash.”

It is easy for most people to grasp how slowing down, limiting distractions, and using all of our senses can help us safely navigate a fog that limits our visibility. But how many of us show the good sense to slow down and proceed with caution when we are operating with limited information in a relationship or social interaction?

I am thinking primarily of my own experiences when the road of an interpersonal relationship or social interaction was obscured by some kind of “fog.” Perhaps someone was suddenly acting distant, disinterested, anxious, or upset. Perhaps they were not being particularly vocal, yet it was clear that there had been a change in the weather. Did I slow down or even pull over to let the visibility improve rather than continuing to barrel into trouble? Did I turn down the radio, crack the window, and attempt to augment my vision with my other senses? Or did I blithely continue driving at or above the posted speed limit with the radio blaring and proceed into a dense fog bank with little to concern for the hidden dangers?

I guess what I am suggesting is that it can be prudent to slow down and proceed with caution, or even wait for visibility to improve, when things get a little foggy in our interpersonal relationships, particularly when dealing with potentially mercurial people. Something to consider, I suppose.

Below is a link to an article with good advice for professional truck drivers and the motoring public on safety negotiating foggy roads and highways.

https://schneiderjobs.com/blog/how-to-drive-in-fog