Autumn Driving Tips

Summer is well and truly over and the nights are drawing in, and while it’s not quite time to start thinking about snow and ice just yet, it’s always worth remembering to prepare for autumn conditions too.

Start thinking about the onset of winter by checking that your tyres, brakes, heaters and demisters are all in working order. Don’t leave it until the weather gets really bad. This is also the time to check the battery, especially if it’s older than 3 years.

Autumn driving brings a much greater chance of being dazzled by low sun. This means that it is crucial to keep windscreens clean, inside and outside, to reduce glare. Cracks and chips should also be dealt with. This is also the time to renew windscreen wiper blades if they’re looking a bit worn. New blades will clean your windscreen much more effectively than old ones. Tip: if they squeak as they wipe they probably need replacing.

As the nights draw in it’s also a good idea to ensure that headlights and taillights are clean too, and to check bulbs.

Darker nights and reduced visibility mean it’s more important than ever to look out for hazards, particularly children on their way to and from school. And remember that wet and even foggy weather conditions mean you need to keep a careful eye on speed and allow for longer stopping distances, especially when roads are slippery.

Watch out for piles of wet leaves on the road. Not only can they obscure potholes and other road surface hazards, but hitting a pile of wet leaves can be just as dangerous as driving into water, with the same effects on braking and steering.

And finally, if you’re out and about in the country, the Institute of Advanced Motorists advise you to take extra care to avoid animals in the road. Autumn is a time of increased animal activity, it’s mating season for deer, and smaller animals are out hunting for food before the onset of winter.