While autumn is known for its colorful foliage, crisp air temperatures and pumpkin spice lattes, it is also a season known for its unpredictable weather and tricky road conditions. Here are a few smart driving tips to keep you safe on the roads this fall.
*Full Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
Watch out for leaves – As the leaves start falling from the trees onto the roadways, they can wreak havoc on the roads, by concealing potholes and covering street marking and traffic lines. Wet leaves can be just as slippery as ice, making it harder for you to stop. Whether the leaves on the roadways are wet or dry, reduce your speeds, drive with extra caution and avoid hard braking.
Keep an eye out for deer – Fall is deer breeding season, so you’ll likely seem them more during fall than other times of the year. Deer are most active during dusk and dawn, so this is when you should be most alert for them. Also, be extra watchful when driving in areas where deer crossing signs are posted. Keep in mind that deer often travel in groups, so proceed with caution if you do see a deer since there are likely more around.
Be aware of sun glare – During the fall months, the sun is lower in the sky, resulting in sun glare just after sunrise and just before sunset. Sun glare can impair your visibility, making it harder to see the road ahead of you. To help diminish some of the effects of sun glare, use polarized sunglasses and keep your windshield clean, both inside and out.
Use caution in school zones – With a new school year upon us, school zones will be bustling with pedestrians and school buses. Obey reduced speed limit signs posted in school zones, which are designed to keep pedestrians safe. Also, there will be school buses that are dropping off kids in the morning and picking them up in the afternoon. When approaching a stopped school bus, it is important that you come to a complete stop behind the school bus.
Be prepared for foggy weather – Fog is a common problem in the fall, especially during the early morning and evening hours. Fog may reduce your visibility when driving. To combat these visibility changes, use your low beam headlights when driving in the fog, drive cautiously, reduce your speeds and leave extra distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.
Beware of morning frost – As the temperatures outside start to dip, low overnight temperatures can cause frost. Morning frost tends to form mainly on the ground, cars, trees and windows. To combat early morning frost, use an ice scraper to clear off your car windshield and reduce your speeds, especially on bridges, overpasses and heavily shaded roads.
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