Seven Safety Tips For Fall

Sep 28, 2016

A whole new season has arrived and Destination Kia would like to remind you that while you are busy getting ready for pumpkin picking, and hayrides, you should also be getting ready to take on a whole new set of driving conditions. The temperature is not the only thing that changes with the new season and you should remember to keep some of these changes in mind to make your daily commuting much easier. Check out a few Fall driving tips below and be sure to drive safe around Albany, Schenectady, Clifton Park, Queensbury, and Kingston, NY.

1.) No Braking On Leaves – Falling leaves are one of the most common sites associated with this new season, hence the name, Fall. As beautiful as the abundance of multi-colored leaves can be, once they are on the road they become a hazard. When leaves get wet they become slippery and driving over them is similar to driving over a patch of ice. Therefore avoid driving over them whenever possible and do your best to never break over patches of wet leaves as it could cause you to skid.

2.) Avoid The Glare of the Sun – As the days become progressively shorter, the sun will be setting earlier than we have been used to over the past few months. That means that your evening commute which was normally in all sunlight, could have a very different type of glare due to the lower position of the sun in the sky. Be sure to keep good pair of sunglasses on hand, keep your windshield clean, use north/south streets, and streets with shade whenever possible.

3.) Use Your Rain Smarts – Even though most of us associate increase rainfall with the Spring due to the whole “April Showers” saying, the Fall actually brings an increased amount of rain as well. As the temperature drops the amount of moisture in the air increases which leads to more wet, rainy days as well as more foggy days. Remember to adjust your driving to the wet conditions in order to avoid hydroplaning and always use low beams in fog, not high beams to maintain the best visibility.

4.) Driver Carefully on Bridges – With the temperature getting cooler this leads to the start of icy patches with the morning frost especially on bridges, overpasses, and other shaded areas.

5.) Adjust Your Eyes – After the first day of Fall, the National Weather Service states that we will lose about one to two minutes of daylight each day. Therefore, make sure to allow time for your eyes to adjust to the dark after leaving your bright office at the end of the day before you begin your evening commute.

6.) Look Out For Deer – In case you did not know, Autumn is breeding season for deer. This means that you can understandably expect to see them out and about much more often. Deer can cause a great deal of damage to your vehicle if you should be unfortunate enough to hit one. Therefore, be extra cautious and watch for them darting into the road especially during sunrise and sunset when they are most active and when you are driving near a wooded area.

7.) Get Your Vehicle Ready – It is always smart to have your vehicle checked out at the start of a new season to make sure everything is still working in top shape. Make sure to check out your tire pressure since tires lose about one to two pounds of pressure for every 10 degrees that the temperature drops. Also, make sure to check your windshields wipers, headlights, heating system, and anything else that you are concerned with.

“7 Fall Driving Safety Tips.” N.p., 30 Sept. 2015. Web. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.safebee.com%2Ftravel%2F7-fall-driving-safety-tips>.