Motorists Turn Over A New Leaf: Autumn Driving Dangers

The leaves are changing colour and falling from the trees, providing a vibrant but lethal playground for UK motorists. The transformation of seasons brings new hazards for motorists from slippery leaves to dark mornings – with the number of accidents already increasing by 15% this month.

Autumn Accidents:

Motorists who fail to adapt to the changing seasons and thus driving conditions, are taking a major risk with falling leaves and darker evenings posing a real threat.

October is statistically the most dangerous month for motorists, with accident claims at around 25% higher than the average month. In specific the 20th of the month stands out as the most dangerous day of all - motorists should be extra vigilant around this time.

Playing ‘Russian roulette’ with the roads is a sure way to end up having to file for an accident claim and start getting the bus to work. Gambling on wet roads in the dark is one of the biggest dangers motorists face especially as the leaves begin to cover the roads with a vibrant slippery blanket, which can be lethal to drivers as they are oblivious to the dangers.

The great British wet weather can hinder motorists during this season as the darker mornings and early evenings set in it becomes much harder to spot surface water that has collected on the road surface, making it harder to judge breaking distance – increasing the chances of skidding and accidents.

 
With a 14% rise in car crash fatalities on UK roads in October, compared to the monthly average in the previous six months it’s no surprise the police are urging motorists to take extra care on the roads.

However even with all the warnings it seems that motorists are ignoring the advice and are not modifying their driving styles to suit the autumnal weather. October delivers some of the worst driving conditions of the year as the weather changes and the clocks go back, but still drivers continue to drive as if they were in summer months.

Change Your Habits Or Risk Changing Your No Claims:

Autumn is a picturesque time of the year, with rustic colours filling the streets, but motorists need to be aware of the hazards. The sun is much lower in the sky at sunrise and sunset at this time of year so drivers should be alert to the fact that this can have a dangerous blinding effect. This is particularly apparent around the time motorists are commuting to and from work – meaning there are a vast number of motorists on the roads, increasing the chances of an accident.

Fog is an issue during this season, as it fills the sky like a thick blanket, hampering motorist’s visibility and increasing the chances of accidents. Fog is a particular problem on fast-moving roads, such as motorways but severely reduced visibility brings danger for drivers on all roads – particularly junctions and roundabouts.

Using fog lights should help motorists, however they should be used sparingly; switch them on only when visibility is below 100 metres, leaving them on after fog has disappeared is an offence and a danger to other motorists.

By slowing down and taking more precautions during the autumn months, motorists should be able to stop within the distance they can see to be clear and give following drivers more time to react.

By obeying the basic laws of physics and common sense, motorists should be able to handle the change in season and driving conditions with ease.