Driving Hazards & Tips To Keep You Safe

As we get further and further into the fall season we are starting to see the weather change and the roads becoming more hazardous. Each season presents unique driving circumstances and fall is no different. Here Doug Yates Towing & Recovery discusses five fall driving tips to keep you safe on the road so you can enjoy the beautiful things that fall has to offer.

Fall Leaves

Leaves on the road can be dangerous, especially when wet. Driving on slippery leaves can be similar to driving on ice. Leaves can also obstruct traffic lines, potholes, or pavement markings. Remember to use caution, drive slowly, and keep a safe following distance.

Fog & Frost

Cool autumn mornings can bring fog, reducing your visibility and distance perception. When fog is present it’s recommended to use your vehicles fog lights. They shine wide, low beams along the road and onto the edges of a street. Don’t use them instead of your regular headlights but rather in addition to low-beam headlights. Don’t click on your high beams. Those make visibility worse because the bright light bounces off the fog and right back into your eyes.

As temperatures drop overnight that brings morning frost. Use a snow broom/ice scraper to remove excess frost and give yourself extra time to clear your windows off before you start driving. Make sure your wipers and defrosters are working properly. Also, be aware of frost on the roadways, especially when driving on bridges, overpasses, or in a shaded area.

Glare

With the time change, the sun rises and sets at different times. The first fifteen to forty-five minutes after sunrise and before sunset can make driving conditions more difficult due to sun glare. The sun perfectly aligns with east/west roadways during this time. To avoid glare use your vehicle sun visors and keep a pair of sunglasses in your car to help reduce the suns glare.

Animals

During fall, but especially in November, pay attention to animals crossing the road. According to the Highway Safety, you’re 3.5x more likely to hit an animal — especially a deer — in November than at any other time of the year. This is because fall months coincides with deer mating season. Pay attention to “deer crossing” signs and be extra cautious if you’re driving at dusk or dawn. If you encounter an animal on the road, try to avoid swerving and try to come to a controlled stop and let the animal pass.

Tires & Air Pressure

Expect your tires to drop at least one pound per square inch (PSI) of pressure each month. Tires will drop another pound per square inch of pressure for every ten degrees of temperature drop. When the air cools in the fall, that accelerates. Tires perform better in hazardous conditions if they have good tread. Be sure to routinely check your tread and tire pressure with a good handheld gauge. Correct pressure will be noted on a decal pasted on the driver’s side door jamb or the door itself and in the owner’s manual. The pressure inscribed on the tire sidewall itself is a maximum and not the recommended inflation — though it might coincidentally match the recommended PSI for your car.

Need A Tow?

Doug Yates Towing and Recovery is located in the city limits of Chattanooga, one of Tennessee’s most vibrant business communities. Since 1946 it has been the company’s mission to conduct business with integrity and professionalism in all phases of day to day services. You can count on us for all your towing & recovery needs.