5 Fall Driving Safety Tips
Though summer is commonly seen as the time when people travel most, fall and winter see people bundling into cars just as often. Gatherings with friends to avoid the winter chill, movie nights, offseason work conferences, holiday gatherings or even just the daily commute — there are myriad reasons people will risk the worsening road and weather conditions. Some simple precautions can help get you there and back home safely.
1. Be aware of the poor visibility.
Even if you think you can see clearly, other drivers may not be able to do so. Despite the fact that the rules of the road require that everyone must drive safely — we all know those rules are often broken. Thus, it is incumbent upon even the safest driver to keep a careful lookout for dangers on the road – including other drivers.
Check the lights on your vehicle to see if any bulbs are burned out. Kansas law sets a number of different requirements for lights on vehicles, including a bulb illuminating your license plate, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol. Missouri law requires drivers to use their headlights until 30 minutes before sunrise and after 30 minutes after sunset, or any time when there is not enough light to see people or cars up to 500 feet away, such as in periods of heavy fog. It’s important for other drivers to be able to see you. Additionally, if a brake light or turn signal bulb is burned out, that could prevent another driver from seeing you and lead to an accident.
2. Watch out for animals.
It is mating season for deer. As a result, they are busily moving around and pay little attention to the fact that they are crossing roads and highways. Deer can jump in front of your car with little or no warning, as many drivers have unfortunately found out. Extreme caution should be used at dusk and dawn when the deer are more mobile. And, certainly, it may be even harder to avoid deer in the dark as they will often freeze in place when caught in your headlights. Fall is the peak time for animals collisions, especially in November, which is the peak of deer mating season, according to AAA.
AAA recommends holding the horn down with one long blast to scare animals out of the roadway and away from your car. Deer whistles and reflectors have dubious returns, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Thus, your basic car horn may be the best deterrent.
Everyone should be wearing a seatbelt, and if an impact is unavoidable, AAA advises braking firmly, but not with panic. More serious crashes happen when drivers swerve to avoid an animal and crash into oncoming traffic or other objects, like trees or road barriers. If you spot an injured animal in the roadway, call the police rather than trying to move it yourself — injured animals can be defensive and dangerous.
3. Ice isn’t so nice.
As snow falls, it stays powdery on the fields and lawns but on the roads, the constant friction heat from car tires and plowing leaves a wet layer that freezes to the blacktop, known as black ice. It can be very hard to spot until you lose traction.
If you find yourself on black ice, don’t brake. Take your foot off the accelerator and keep your wheel steady. Don’t panic or overcorrect your steering. As soon as you feel the car get traction again, test the brakes to see how much traction you have. Be especially careful and go slowly when approaching intersections — about 40 percent of the accidents in the United States in 2008 occurred in intersections, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Board.
Your car’s thermometer is a good place to check for the possibility of black ice on the roads — if it’s significantly below freezing and the roadways look wet, chances are that there will be ice somewhere, especially on bridges. Stay aware, don’t panic, and get there safely.
4. Be mindful of bicycles.
Though some bicyclists wear reflective vests and have lighting on their bicycles, others don’t and can be hard to see. Bicyclists should be mindful of the darkness, especially during this season of shorter days, and wear bright clothing and have adequate lighting on their bicycles. With the increased hours of darkness, drivers should use extra caution when they see a bicyclist in the roadway or about to cross a street.
Outdoor gear company REI recommends cyclists stay as close to the curb as possible, though they may not be able to with the leaf or snow buildup in the gutters. They may also be out in the lane to avoid the buildup of rubble and trash in the gutters during the fall and winter months, so be mindful that cyclists may not be able to ride close to the curb.
5. Keep distractions to a minimum.
It can be distracting when driving with friends, kids or with music on the radio. Cell phones are also a perennial distraction — though many states, including Kansas and Missouri, have some level of ban on texting or cell phone use while driving, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Despite these regulations, many people still talk, email, and text while driving.
And the consequences can be dire — in 2015 alone, 3,477 people were killed and 391,000 were injured in accidents involving distracted driving, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Board. Distracted driving includes a variety of activities from talking to changing the radio to eating.
Focus on the road, especially when road conditions start to worsen and the nights get darker. Get to Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas with your family safely, and get back home safely too.
