It has quickly become fall. All the leaves are red and falling off the trees. The mornings are getting colder and the days are shorter – and drivers seem to have forgotten how to drive.
Many people aren’t prepared for driving in fall weather. Some people forget how to deal with the usual hazards, despite their experience. Other people are new to the road and this is the first time they’ll drive through the season changes.
Here’s what you should know when protecting yourself on the road:
1. Avoid piles of wet leaves
The first thing drivers notice is the number of leaves on the road. They may be pretty to look at but they can cause some serious damage. These leaves, when wet from the rain, can make it hard for cars to gain traction.
Even drivers with new tires may find it hard to keep their cars from sliding and skidding. If a car doesn’t have enough to gain traction because of wet leaves, then it could easily slide into another car.
2. Watch out for animals
You are more likely to hit an animal, especially deer, during the fall. November is when deer mate, so many of them go wandering around – some may step right in front of oncoming traffic.
Hitting an animal can be startling and many drivers don’t react in time to stop themselves from doing so, causing serious damage to their vehicle and possibly injuring themselves and the animal.
3. Use your low beams during morning fog
As the weather shifts from hot to cold, many mornings are full of fog. While it may feel like you’ve found yourself in a horror movie, the real danger is on the road. Drivers should use their low beams in the fog to reduce glare for other drivers, but not every driver gets the message.
If you find yourself in an accident this fall through no fault of your own, you may need to know what legal options you have to recover from losses and injuries.