3 Road Hazards To Watch Out for in Autumn

While most people think of winter roads as having the weather that you need to be concerned about, even before the snow starts flying, it’s wise to be vigilant about other road hazards that could come your way in the winter. So if you live in a place that has distinct fall weather, here are three road hazards to watch out for in autumn.

Foot Traffic

Regardless of where you live, fall is when school gets back in session. And because of this, it’s very likely that you’re going to have more and more pedestrians on the road during the fall.

Especially if you live near a school or are on the roads during the hours when schools are starting or ending, you’ll want to keep your eyes out for foot traffic. Whether it’s small children walking on their own, parents walking with their kids to their school, or teens who aren’t paying attention to what’s going on around them, you’ll want to do everything in your power to avoid any kind of car accident involving a vehicle or a pedestrian.

Dropping Temperatures

As the temperatures outside start to drop, you’ll need to be aware of how those conditions can affect the roads you’re driving on.

In areas where fall brings with it a lot of fog, foggy conditions along with a low temperature can make roads very icy. When this happens, avoid using your high beams so that you can see better. But even when there isn’t fog or you don’t actually see any snow or ice on the roads, you should still be careful about black ice. According to the experts at goldsteinlaw.com, to avoid black ice, drivers should do their best to slow down when driving over bridges or overpasses, as these areas will freeze and produce black ice much more quickly than other roads. You’ll also want to be careful with shaded areas where temperatures will stay low even during the day.

Shorter Daylight Hours

As we get further and further into fall, there will be fewer and fewer hours of daylight during the day. This means that as you’re driving to and from work, there’s a good chance that you’ll be driving in the dark.

When driving in the dark, make sure you’re aware of your surroundings by checking for wildlife that becomes more active at dawn and dusk. Deer and other animals can jump out in front of your car at this time, which can be even more dangerous than usual if there’s any moisture on the road. Also, depending on where you live in relation to your work, you might be driving right into the rising or setting sun on your commute, which can make it hard to look directly at the road.

If you’re going to be driving your car more now that fall weather has started to set in, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you stay safe and avoid accidents on the road.