Spring for
ward and fall back. Autumn is around the corner, ushering in a season of beauty, from fall foliage, to Halloween and pumpkin pies. For drivers however, autumn is also accompanied by a unique set of driving challenges. Whether you are driving a small sedan or an 18 wheeler, here are some important driving safety tips to keep in mind.
- School Traffic: Children running, buses stopping, increased traffic, and more distractions.
- Deer: It’s been reported that car and deer collisions cause 200 deaths per year. Increased deer activity, due to mating and migrating, means more deer on the roads. Be especially cautious at night when deer are harder to spot.
- Fog: Driving in fog is often made worse by a common driver error. Many drivers use their high beams in foggy weather, which reduces visibility. Slow down, and keep those high beams off for better autumn navigation.
- Foliage: Falling leaves obscure traffic markings, hide potholes, and limit visibility for other road hazards. Add in rain, and leaves can become super slick, impairing handling and stopping. And foliage peepers tend to drive slowly, making unpredictable stops to admire the fall colors. Make sure you allow extra space between you and these drivers.
- Frost: As temperatures drop, the incidence of black ice increases. In some areas, like bridges, overpasses, and shady spots, unexpected ice can create a major road safety hazard. In winter, drivers are more acclimated to look for ice, but many are surprised when it appears in the fall.
- Glare: Sun glare makes it challenging to see oncoming traffic, pedestrians, joggers, bicycles, or even the car directly in front of you. As anyone driving west as the sun sets has realized, with or without your visor, visibility is greatly mitigated at this time.
- Rain: In many areas, fall is accompanied by wet weather, resulting in pooling water and slick pavement.
- Speed: When in doubt, slow down. From wet leaves to sun glare, fall brings its own unique road safety challenges.
- Tire Pressure: Colder weather can result in lower tire pressure. Check your tire pressure for proper inflation.
- Emergency Kit: Though this is sage advice for any season, if you have yet to do so, prepare an emergency kit in your car trunk or truck cab. Kits should typically include a flashlight, flares, first-aid kit, jumper cables, washer fluid, nonperishable food, water, blanket and a few basic tools such as wrenches, socket set, screwdrivers, and pliers.
Even the best drivers can be surprised by slick leaves and a deer suddenly darting across the road. Deer collisions alone are estimated to cost over $4 billion per year, and are accompanied by injuries and fatalities. Increased distractions from schools to foliage to sun glare bring increase driving challenges. Beware of these driving dangers. And this fall, if you see unsafe truck drivers on road, look for a “How’s My Driving” sticker on the truck. Call the number to report the unsafe driving. These programs are designed to help fleet operators improve driver performance and reduce company collision rates.
