9 Important Fall Driving Tips Every Canadian Should Know
Our country is known for its beautiful changing seasons, from the glistening winter snow to the colourful leaves in the fall. As a result, Canadians need to know how to drive in a variety of weather conditions.
That’s why it’s important to know your fall driving tips as we make our way into the bulk of the season.
Fall brings its own set of seasonal injuries, so there are plenty of fall weather safety precautions we should all take. With low visibility, earlier sunsets, and slippery fallen leaves, there’s always something to be on the lookout for.
Follow these important fall driving tips to make sure you enjoy this beautiful time as much as possible.
1. Autumn Leaves Are Major Road Hazards
One of the biggest things we need to stress for fall season safety tips, whether you’re driving or walking, is the hazard of slippery leaves.
Wet leaves are extremely slippery and can cause driving hazards on the road.
Give yourself plenty of room and be careful when taking corners. Slow down if the road is covered in leaves, and make sure you stop early enough to avoid an accident.
Even if it hasn’t rained recently, early morning dew can cause slippery leaves. Be careful at any time of the day and always take as much caution as possible.
Not only are leaves slippery when wet, but they’re also a fire hazard when dry. Don’t park your car near a pile of dry leaves. The heat from your ignition could spark a fire if the leaves are dry enough.
2. Watch the Weather
If there’s one thing we all know about the fall, it’s that the weather can change on a dime.
You could go from a beautiful, sunny day to torrential downpour in a matter of hours.
Be aware of the risk of hydroplaning in excessive water. When you come to a road that has a lot of water, slow down and don’t accelerate abruptly.
Don’t drive too fast when it’s raining or has rained recently. The faster you drive, the less traction you have if you need to stop suddenly.
Make sure you’re topped up on windshield wiper fluid and that your wipers are in working order. Use winter washer fluid, as temperatures can drop at night and winter could be here any minute.
Frost forms on windows in the fall, so be sure to give yourself enough time to let them defog before you leave. Dropping temperatures can cause frost at night and in the morning, as well as on those crisp, chilly fall days.
Since the weather changes so quickly, it’s also important to have your car ready for winter.
3. Beware of Black Ice
Yes, black ice can happen in the fall, too. Just because it’s not snowing doesn’t mean that there won’t be ice.
Temperatures drop in the fall, especially at night. When the temperature drops and the leaves are wet from rain, they can freeze and you won’t be able to tell that they’re icy.
Fallen leaves can also cover up patches of black ice that could have frozen after a heavy rainfall. Isolated spots of ice are commonly found on sheltered parts of the road, like bridges or overpasses. Be careful when driving in these areas.
4. Keep Sunglasses in Your Car
During the fall, the sun glare is strong.
The sun’s position changes at this time, and it sits in a different spot. It begins to sit lower in the sky because it sets earlier than in the summer.
This generates a glare that can pose big visibility issues for drivers. In fact, this can blind you if you’re driving directly into the sun’s path.
Keep a pair of sunglasses in your car so you can use them when the sun starts to hit your eyes. You should also keep your windshield clean. Dirt on the glass can make the glare worse.
5. Use Your Low Beams in the Fog
Fog is very common in the fall.
You should be using your low beams in the fog for best visibility. If you use high beams, it’ll just reflect off the fog and make it harder for you to see.
Some cars come with fog lights. If yours has them, use them.
Reduce your speed, too. Leave enough space from the car in front of you so you have more time to react if something happens.
6. Be on The Lookout For Children
The fall season is synonymous with plenty of things: Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Black Friday shopping. But it’s also back to school season.
During this time, more children are on the streets as they go to and from school. You need to be in the habit of constantly checking your surroundings, because they could run out anytime and you won’t always see them.
Road traffic also increases as parents drop off and pick up their kids. Be careful of children who might be getting out of the car and crossing the road without looking.
Always stop for school buses. It is against the law not to stop when the lights are flashing. Children come out of the bus and cross the road, and if you break the law and don’t stop, you could hit someone.
7. Keep Your Lights Maintained Regularly
Summer is over, which means the days are getting shorter and the sun sets early. That means you’re going to be doing a lot more driving in the dark with reduced visibility.
You’ll likely find yourself driving home from work in the dark as well.
Make sure your lights are in working order and inspect them regularly. You’ll be relying on them a lot more for the next few months.
Keep them clean and make sure they don’t get too cloudy. This could impact your visibility if you aren’t careful.
8. Watch Out For Leaf Lovers
The leaves changing can be beautiful, especially if you live near some nice country driving roads. These leaves make some great photo-ops.
Keep your eyes out for anyone who might be stopped to take photos or look at the leaves. They might be driving a lot slower than the speed limit to admire the trees.
You might see this more often if you live in an area that attracts a lot of tourists. People who come from countries that don’t have a fall season like ours love the beauty of this time.
But it’s not just tourists- photographers also love the leaves at this time of year, and take every opportunity to take some beautiful fall photos.
Let everyone enjoy the leaves without accident.
9. Check Your Tires
Since the leaves are slippery, the weather is changing, and there’s a risk of black ice, you’ll need to check your tires regularly.
It’s easy to lose tire pressure in the fall, too. Since the water switches often, your tires contract and expand often, reducing pressure gradually.
Even if you just do a quick walk around your car before you leave your house, you’ll be prepared for fall road hazards.
It’s not a bad idea to put your winter tires on early, either. As soon as the temperature starts dropping, switch over so you’re prepared for the winter weather.
Injured Driving in the Fall? Conte Jaswal Can Help
You might be taking the right fall safety precautions, but that doesn’t mean other drivers on the road are.
If someone neglects to obey fall weather safety precautions, and causes an accident that injures you, they could be held liable for their actions.
At Conte Jaswal, we are empathetic to your situation. We’ll fight for you and be your advocate when you go up against the big insurance companies. You do not have to do this alone.
Book a free, no-obligation consultation with us to discuss your options. Accidents happen, but we can help you get the compensation you need to recover.
Contact Conte Jaswal now to start getting your life back on track.
