Hazardous driving conditions for Friday as fog warning issued by Met Office

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentEngland has a fog warning this morning, and the Met Office's top driving advice is to turn your lights down.

2. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentDown? Brighter is better. That's how lights work.

3. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentHold that thought. First, what happened: the Met Office issued a yellow fog warning at four eighteen in the morning, running until ten.

4. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentYellow. Is that the scary one?

5. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIt's a warning level. The Met Office uses it when there's a better than seventy-five percent chance of the fog, with a moderate impact.

6. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentAnd moderate means what for someone just trying to get to work?

7. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentVisibility below one hundred metres at times. That's about a football pitch, and you can't see the far goal.

8. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentA football pitch. So everyone's driving blind toward a goal they can't see.

9. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentRoughly.

10. 

    Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe warning covers a big area of central and eastern England, including parts of the West Midlands, East Midlands, East of England, and London and the South East.

11. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentHow'd we get here?

12. 

    Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe Press News Agency says it follows Storm Austen and Storm Boelo, a spell the Met Office called exceptionally unsettled.

13. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentTwo storms, then fog. The weather's doing a cooldown lap.

14. 

    Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentWho's affected? Anyone commuting. The Met Office says to expect longer journeys, delays to buses and trains, and possible flight delays or cancellations.

15. 

    Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentFog is tiny water droplets. The Met Office says full beam reflects off them and back at you, reducing visibility further.

16. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the fog is a mirror. That's amazing. You're driving into your own flashlight!

17. 

    Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe droplets scatter it, yes. It's a little amazing, I'll admit.

18. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentI see you.

19. 

    Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentDon't. The advice is plain: do not use full beam lights. That's the Met Office's wording.

20. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo what's the next thing drivers should keep an eye out for?

21. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the one-sentence version: fog until ten, dip your lights, and don't trust your own flashlight.

22. 

    Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentCorrect. Yellow warning, moderate risk, better than seventy-five percent chance. Verdict: take your time.

23. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the safest move in fog is to be less impressive. I've been doing that for years.