Car Safety Tips for Fall

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for pumpkin spice fans, however it’s a less wonderful time of year for those who commute: the roads are becoming more dangerous with the shorter days and colder weather.

Keep an Ice Scraper in Your Car

Make sure there’s an ice scraper in your car. Now that we’re approaching fall, the nights are getting colder and colder. We’re quickly approaching the time of year where the dew will begin to freeze to your windshield. In about six weeks, some states may be at the point where frost is freezing to your windshield during the day—especially in places that have freezing rain and sleet. If you live in a climate such as the aforementioned, it’s getting to be that time of year where having an ice scraper on hand is necessary. Whatever you do, do not attempt to drive while your windows are frosted over, or while you have limited visibility. While the roads are wet and/or icy, other drivers have a limited ability to make corrections. If you pull out in front of a driver because you cannot see them, they may not be able to correct themselves in time to prevent an accident.

Make Sure Your Headlights and Brake Lights Work

Now that we’re approaching fall, the days are getting shorter. Depending on where you live, it may get dark pretty early. In fact, some parts of the country starts to get dark before 5:00 pm. Since it’s getting dark earlier, there are going to be a lot more people driving home in the dark. Therefore, it’s important to make sure your headlights work so that you’re not difficult to spot on the road, and so that you can actually see the road on your way home. It’s also important to make sure your brake lights are functioning. If you’re driving in the snow, those around you need as much warning as possible when you need to stop or change lanes.

Start Checking the Weather

Now is the time to start checking the weather before heading out to work. With freezing temperatures, rain can easily turn to snow on your commute. If you leave before the plows come out, the roads may be in poor condition while you’re commuting to work. If possible, you may need to work from home on some days in order to ensure your safety. If you do need to go out when the weather outside is frightful,  you may need to take extra precautions in order to stay safe in a worst case scenario. For example, if you live somewhere with a lot of snow and ice, you may need a bag of salt and a shovel in case your car gets stuck in a ditch. Make sure you understand the difference between winter weather advisories and winter weather warnings so that you understand what’s likely to occur.

Check Your Tires

Fall is a great time to put on your snow tires if you’ve got ‘em. Having tires that are in good condition can help you avoid accidents in the future. If you have tires that need to be switched out, you will likely have a more difficult time coming to a complete stop, especially in winter weather. It’s a good idea to change your snow tires in the beginning of the fall since it can easily begin snowing in October, even if the snow doesn’t stick. What was predicted to be some light rain can end up becoming snow if the temperatures are low enough. And you don’t want to find out that the forecasted rain is actually going to be snow while you’re on the road without good tires.

Get New Wipers if Necessary

It’s important to get new wipers at the start of the rainy/snowy season. If your wipers need to be updated, you may not be able to see if there’s heavy rain or snow. Having good wipers can prevent accidents from occurring when there’s a sudden downpour of rain or snow. In fact, if your wipers aren’t in good condition, they can actually damage your windshield, making it even more difficult to see out of your windshield. Make sure to update your window wipers if you live in a place that has rainy autumns and winters.

When You’ve Been Injured

If you’ve sustained injury in an accident, Moxie Law Group is here for you. At Moxie Law Group, we offer free consultations to help those who have been injured determine whether or not they’d benefit from a personal injury claim. If you’ve sustained injury, contact Moxie Law Group today to get started.