Autumn Driving: 6 Ways to Avoid an Accident This Fall

Fall is just around the corner. Along with changes in the leaves, temperature, and sports come changes in driving: the days (which are growing shorter) are now punctuated by drop-offs and pick-ups of children whose classes are back in full swing, and that means we drivers need to be hyper-vigilant and focused on safety behind the wheel .

Here are a few things to be aware of as summer turns to autumn in order to prevent a collision. Some of these may seem obvious, but take them as a friendly reminder to help put you in the right mindset to stay safe and set a good example for other drivers this fall.

1. It gets darker, earlier, and brighter, later. This one’s pretty self explanatory. The days are getting shorter, so your sunny summer drives to and from work are now at dawn and dusk, the most dangerous times to drive. The rising or setting sun can be blinding, and our eyes are in transition, adjusting for day or night. If you live in an area that is home to wildlife, be aware that nocturnal animals are still active at these times: keep an eye out for unexpected moving obstacles. Oh, and remember to turn your headlights on!

2. There are new traffic patterns left and right!  Sporting events and parades mean road blocks, temporary crosswalks, and police officers directing traffic. Often these events are at night, and accompanied by signs and blinking lights. Drive slowly and be cautious in these areas, but also be aware of the not-so-regulated perimeters too, as event-goers cutting across parking lots or side roads can be very difficult to see. Parking can get a little hairy in these situations as well, so be mindful of cars parked perilously close to the road.

3.  “School zone” speed limits are back. The long-dormant lights of the speed limit signs near schools in your area are blinking again, in most areas between 7:30-9:30 AM and again from 2-3:30 PM. That means a stretch of road that is usually 35-45 mph might at those times become 25 mph (or less). The combination of reduced speeds and lines of cars and buses turning into schools makes for a longer trip to work, so factor that into your departure time. It’s not worth a ticket, and certainly not worth endangering kids on their way to school.

4. New drivers are out in full force. “Look at this guy, what- did he learn to drive yesterday?!” Well, maybe he did. or today. In recent years, driver education classes have been introduced as elective courses at many schools across the country, so drive carefully and defensively around these new navigators who will inevitably be roving your streets. Everybody’s gotta learn sometime.

5. Roadside runners are around the corner. In many areas, school track teams train by jogging before and after school hours within a few miles of the school. Share the “track” with these young athletes- slow down as you pass them and give them some space.

6. Texting and driving is NEVER worth the risk. I can’t stress this one enough. Don’t ever read or send a text while driving, in the fall or any other time of year. Texting and driving, and other handheld cell phone use, are the number one cause of fatalities on our roads today. When you get in the car, put your cell phone away, or better yet, go for a solution like theORIGOSafe™ to ensure that your family will never succumb to the temptation to text and drive.