Update Thursday 7.07am

Eoin O'Hagan Eoin O'Hagan

BE CAREFUL ON the roads this morning – there’s fog around parts of the country.

Shane Walsh Shane Walsh

Met Éireann issued a nationwide orange alert for heavy fog, starting yesterday evening, and it’s affecting visibility on some roads:

The warning – the second most serious available – means mist will thicken into fog throughout Ireland by 8pm, and will be very slow in clearing up by lunchtime today.

Visibility will be badly reduced, and driving conditions will be fairly awful, so the Gardaí are telling motorists to SLOW DOWN:

They’re also being really sound and giving the public high-visibility gear:

Here’s the advice being given by the Road Safety Authority this evening.

If you’re driving:

• Slow down, leave more space between you and the vehicle in front
• Use dipped headlights and front and rear fog lights, if fitted
• Open your window a bit so you can hear road users approaching
• Turn OFF fog lights once visibility improves
• Keep a lookout for pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists
• Don’t just blindly follow the vehicle in front
• If you have to stop, turn on your hazards

Hannah Parkes Hannah Parkes

If you’re on foot:

• Wear hi-vis clothing or carry a torch.
• If it’s dark when your child is going to school in the morning, make sure they can be seen
• Be really, really careful near water, canals, lakes, ponds, piers, etc…

Probably best to also stay away from graveyards, abandoned churches, and the like…

Additional reporting Aoife Barry

Read: Be careful out there today, it’s going to be foggy>

Met Eireann issues yellow alert as heavy fog hits the country>