What You Should Know to Adjust to Fall Driving
For many of us, the fall season means a lot of wonderful things including changing colors, cooler weather, falling leaves, and Pumpkin Spice in everything. But for drivers, fall can also bring some seasonal dangers on the road. During this time of year, it is important to adjust your driving habits to stay safe behind the wheel – here are some tips that can help you stay safe during this wonderful season.
Dangers of Fall Driving
As we all know, fall weather can be very unpredictable – one day it can be sunny and 60 degrees and the next it is bitter cold with frosty conditions. Not knowing how the weather will change from one day to the next can make it hard to prepare for driving and daylight savings time doesn’t make it any easier. When the clocks fall back, we go from driving in daylight both to and from work to driving in the dark both ways, which can make it harder to see road hazardous during your daily commute.
In addition to the unpredictable weather and the lack of daylight, it is important to remember that school is also back in session and you will likely be dealing with school buses during your morning commute. Make sure to keep an eye out for children when driving through residential neighborhoods and through school zones as well as making sure to keep a safe following distance behind school buses when driving on highways and busy roads. Also, never pass a bus with its stop sign out.
Tips for Driving During the Fall
Inclement weather and dangerous driving conditions can make driving nerve racking, but there are some easy tips you can follow to help keep you safe. When driving during this season, and any season, make sure to watch how fast you are going and drive slightly slower when around school buses and fallen leaves. On rainy days or foggy mornings, make sure to leave a safe following distance between you and other vehicles in case the car doesn’t stop right away or slides when it hits a wet spot.
Sun glare can also be a major issue during the fall, so make sure to use sunglasses and the sun visor in your vehicle whenever necessary – additionally, make sure to approach traffic lights carefully since it sometimes can be hard to see the lights when approaching an intersection. On frosty mornings, make sure to take the time to warm up your vehicle and allow it to defrost properly before driving. Always make sure to clean off the windshield, back window, side windows, and side view mirrors.
If you need help learning how to drive in the morning, consider scheduling some lessons with Training Wheels, a Brigantine Driving School, specializing in Behind the Wheel instruction. For more information about our lessons, please click here.
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