Driving Safety Tips for Fall

Autumn - it's a beautiful season - the leaves are changing colors, the weather isn't too warm, nor too cold, and the natural scenery is astonishing. What you may not know is that in addition to the beauty of this season, there are also many new driving hazards that we should all take into consideration. The following are scenarios or ideas you, the driver, may not have taken into consideration:

Wet Leaves

Wet leaves can be as bad as ice or snow. As leaves accumulate on the road you lose traction, which allows you to stay on the road itself. When you do drive over wet leaves it is best to drive cautiously. Don't make radical turns, abrupt stops, or even go in excess of the speed limit. Also, watch for other drivers that may not take this hazard into consideration, as they may slide helplessly across the road, creating another hazardous situation in itself.

Do Not Drive Through Leaf-Piles

Yes, it may sound like a fun idea at the time, but this is a very, very bad idea. First of all, innocent children like to play in leaves. Not thinking, a child, or children, may play in the leaves, becoming invisible to you, the driver. Running through the pile of leaves with a child or children contained in it, well... it's not a happy ending.

Another reason you should not drive through these piles of leaves, aside from the fact that your car itself may lose control, is that people do leave heavy objects in these piles. People do this because people do drive through their leaves, which then creates a problem, so they must clean the leaves up again. Plotting revenge against these drivers, people may strategically place anything in their pile - from a cinder block to spike strips. In the end not only will you at least cause a mess, but you may potentially damage your car. That's not worth driving through leaves.

Halloween

Contained within Autumn is one of the most hazardous holidays for drivers - Halloween. On Halloween a driver must not just watch out for children and parents that are trick-or-treating, but they must also be ready to take immediate action, as you have a higher chance of instantaneously getting your vehicle covered in eggs, shaving cream, and other substances.

As I said before, you must watch out for children. Children are unaware of the vehicle and traffic law, so it is our responsibility to drive slow and defensively. All the children really know for sure is that they want to run around, collect treats, and eat. The faster you move, the more ground you cover, and the more candy you essentially get.

As the night grows older, and it becomes darker out, you must become more and more cautious. Not everyone takes safety into consideration, so still drive slow. Look for reflective objects, flashlights, bright clothing, glow sticks, and so on. These items will show you where people are located.

Conclusion

Each season has their own hazards when it comes to driving and the roadways. No matter what time of year it is, you should drive safe and defensively. The tips above are ideas that you, the reader, may not have taken into consideration.