Safety Tips For Driving In The Fall

As summer fades in New York and winter is just around the corner, the temperatures drop, and the leaves start to fall. For most drivers, each season brings a whole new set of risks and an adjustment period while they learn to avoid them. When drivers pay attention to the driving risks associated with fall, car accidents can be minimized.

The first thing to consider according to esurance.com is back to school traffic. As kids head back to school there are additional busses and cars on the road. There may also be more pedestrians out walking in the afternoon and morning. Drivers who are used to a fairly tame commute may need to take extra care if they pass a school zone.

Another driving risk is fog. Perceptions of distance and driving visibility are greatly limited by fog, which is common in the cold fall mornings. When driving through fog, drivers should rely on their low beam lights, lower their speed and increase the distance between them and the car in front of them.

Summer nights are long and light. As the seasons change, darkness comes earlier. According to AARP, 50% of traffic deaths occur at nighttime, signifying how important it is that drivers take time to adjust to the changing daytime. It can be extremely hard to judge distance and speed when a driver cannot see well.

Finally, drivers should be on the lookout for animals on the road. Deer mate in November and are likely to be closer to the roads during that time. Research shows that 1 in every 100 car drivers will hit a deer at some point in their driving history.

NOTICE: This is for educational purposes and should not be interpreted as legal advice.