Seeing this gorgeous fungi on my walk recently made me think of the words from John Keats poem
” Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness…”
and with it the realisation that Autumn is upon us – a reminder that it is time to think about our driving style and adapt to the season….. as these glorious Autumn days bring many changes for road users from dazzlingly blinding sunlight to the first icy windscreen of the season.
One of the top causes for accidents in the UK appears to be driver distraction and not paying enough attention to changing surroundings so here is a reminder of things to be especially aware of at this time of year.
RAIN WATER & LEAVES
As more rain falls so the number of road accidents increase.
Regardless of the road surface, rain can turn even the most familiar route into a dangerous & slick surface if you are not paying attention. Beware of wet leaves as they are a skid hazard. Approach them carefully as you would water, slow down before. Don’t accelerate over them and be aware of possible hidden hazards underneath like pot holes.
It pays to take extra care in rain (even if not heavy)– or if there are leaves on the road. You never know what is round the corner.
TYRES
Check your tyres for condition, pressure and tread depth. 3mm is the tread depth to aim for so if your tread is getting low think about fitting new good quality tyres before the cold weather really sets in. This helps prevent accidents.
VISIBILITY
Make sure your windscreen is clean – inside and out. A hazy film builds up over time on the inside surface of the windscreen making it very difficult to see through the dazzle of a low Autumn sun.
Top up your windscreen washer bottle and use a good quality additive to reduce the chance of freezing.
Check wiper blades. They have a limited life ( bout 2 years maximum) and new blades clear the screen more effectively and help reduce dazzle from the sun.
Allow extra time in the morning for your car to warm up and for condensation to clear. Make sure you have maximum visibility before you begin to drive, and remember never leave your car unattended.
Use your lights. Check everything is working and see and be seen. There can be patches of fog in the morning at this time of year.
As the light gets less and the roads become more treacherous – drive safe and careful this Autumn.
Lesley x
