Top Tips for Taking a Safe Autumn Drive

Driving needs to be approached with care all year round. Road casualties don’t tend to trend significantly in one direction or another year on year, with deaths and injuries rising and falling by small percentages all the time. This means you need to be conscious of road safety all the time. However, it is definitely worth noting that, while a very pretty experience, an autumn drive can come with its own set of risks and hazards.

British autumn is defined by colder temperatures, falling leaves, mists/fog, rain and shorter days, all of which can influence how safe your driving experience is going to be. This piece was written to provide some autumn driving safety tips to ensure that you can take to the roads with confidence that the environment and weather won’t cause you dangerous issues.

Preparing your car for the autumn road

Preparing for autumn is vital. Your car’s integrity is the first line of defence against the period’s seasonal impacts. Of course, it’s essential to keep a good car breakdown recovery policy on deck, but there are plenty of steps you can take to ensure you have minimal need to make a callout at any point.

Some core preparation tips include:

Checking your tyres for proper tread depth – experts recommend a minimum of 3mm – for better grip on wet roads. Tyre pressure is also important as temperatures drop.
Test all of your lights to prepare for the shorter days and longer nights. Ensure headlights, brake lights, indicators and fog lights are all functioning.
Replace any older wiper blades and top up your screenwash with a quality solution that contains antifreeze to further ensure visibility.
Have the battery checked by a professional to prepare for even colder mornings, especially if it's older.
Check all relevant fluids, such as engine oil, coolant and brake fluid.
Clear the vents of your air inlets. Autumn leaves on the road are only one aspect of the problem, with vents often blocked by fallen leaves, resulting in overheating and blocked ventilation.

Alongside all these autumn preparation tips, it can also be a wise idea to keep an emergency kit in the boot. These are traditionally kept in cars around wintertime, but a warm blanket and a phone charger can come in handy if you break down in the autumn.

Practical autumn driving tips

Preparation can only do so much. It’s also important that every autumn drive is safe, whatever the weather. Getting used to a seasonal environment requires vigilance.

Some vital autumn driving safety tips include:

Looking out for fallen wet leaves, as they make the road remarkably slippery. They can also hide potholes. If they’re unavoidable, make sure to reduce speed and avoid sudden braking or steering.
Watch out for low autumn sunglare, keeping a pair of sunglasses in the car to block out uncomfortable light shining through.
Look out for autumn wildlife, as the season can be particularly bustling for critters and creatures.
Adjust for rain and mist throughout autumn. Stopping distance can be much longer in wet weather, with aquaplaning being a distinct risk, so leave bigger gaps between yourself and other cars.
Use your lights correctly, in line with the level of fog and the sunlight. Remember to turn them off promptly once fog clears, as leaving them on is dangerous to other drivers and against the law.

Above all else, stay focused. You can’t let things like texts or music distract you from being safe on the road. It’s never too late to improve your driving skills, so make sure to take the road seriously this autumn!