It’s related to highway hypnosis, and the moment you transition from “normal, safe road conditions” where you are following the person ahead to “can’t see shit fog” and everyone is panic breaking.

By the time you’ve “realiz(ed) you’ve lost all visibility” you’re fucked.

These situations happen most frequently with localized fog or very rapid weather shifts where drivers don’t expect change.

This is not a justification of unsafe driving, but an explanation of how average drivers around the world keep doing this.

Google highway hypnosis for more background.