Autumn driving tips

With acorns and conkers on the ground, nature turning that lovely shade of orangey brown and Strictly and Bake Off back on our screens, it’s clear we’re now fully into autumn – or shifting into ‘soup mode’. As the days get shorter and nights get longer, not to mention exciting events like Halloween and Bonfire Night coming up, driving in the autumn can be dangerous.

In this post, Tempcover has put together a list of essential autumn driving tips to keep you and other drivers safe.

Autumn driving preparation

As the temperature drops, it’s important to keep some essentials in your car. Much like the survival kit mentioned in our winter driving tips post, it may be a good idea to keep the following in your boot – just in case:

• Warm clothing (coats, gloves, hats and extra layers)
• Rain jacket
• Hi-vis jacket
• Umbrella
• Ice scraper
• De-icer spray / extra screen wash
• Torch and batteries
• Warm blankets
• First aid kit
• Jumper cables
• Food and drink

Prepare your car for all weather

From gloriously sunny days (watch out for that glare while driving) to torrential downpours, autumn in the UK can have changeable weather, to say the least. As cars are exposed to the elements on a regular basis, you should take extra precautions to ensure you stay safe on the road.

Of course, one of the main elements of this is to practise safe driving. You should use your common sense while driving and stick to speed limits, or a slower speed when appropriate. This is a busy time of year with so many people on the road to get where they need to go – whether that’s for work or pleasure.

With the schools open, there may be more children about so it’s important to take extra care to avoid any that may run out on you. As soon as it’s dark enough, you should have your headlights on so pedestrians and other road users can see you and you should also use your fog lights to increase visibility when needed.

There’s also potentially more wildlife around, especially if you’re heading out on country roads. It’s best to try and stay alert and drive safely in areas where you might come across these animals as there is potential danger to them, you and your vehicle if you have an accident involving one.

Other potential hazards include:

• Leaves on the ground – As fun as it is to walk through crunchy leaves on a dry day, if the weather turns and it gets wet, they become very slippery – even for cars. You should take extra precautions and drive at a slower, safer speed if this is the case.
• Icy conditions – As we head into winter and the weather turns colder, the inevitable ice comes along. You should only drive if absolutely necessary and if you do, take a slow and steady approach.
• Aquaplaning – This occurs when a layer of water builds up between a car’s tyres and the road surface. If this happens, you can lose control of the vehicle and struggle to control the brakes, steer the vehicle or even accelerate. If you do end up aquaplaning, you should stay calm and try to keep your steering straight, trying not to panic or make any sudden movements. Take your foot off the accelerator until your car regains traction and gently use your brakes. Once you’re happy your tyres are back on the road, you can continue driving at a safe, reduced speed.
• Lack of visibility – If your car doesn’t have daytime running lights, you should turn your headlights on when visibility is limited. This will help you see other road users – and them to see you.

Autumn car maintenance

It might be worth performing a seasonal maintenance check on your vehicle. You should always keep an eye on your fuel levels as if the worst was to happen, you wouldn’t want to get stuck somewhere in the cold.

Look for any scratches on your windscreen as these can turn to cracks, especially in the colder weather and check your wipers are working as these will help you see in torrential weather. Another useful check you could do is of your vehicle light’s bulbs and its battery; the latter can be done at your local garage.

What other autumn car checks should you make?

Test your brakes – With different conditions on the ground, you’re going to need your brakes to be responsive to avoid any potential mishaps.

Use antifreeze – Top up your antifreeze to help protect your engine from freezing over.

Check your tyres – The legal minimum depth of tread for tyres is 1.6mm but a tyre with 3mm tread can last around 10,000 to 15,000 miles. Not only is driving with bald tyres unsafe but it can also put you and other road users at risk while landing you with points on your licence (3 points per tyre) and a £2,500 fine for each one that is not up to the required standard.

Tempcover It!

If you’re borrowing a car over the autumn season or just need one for a short-term need, why not consider temporary car insurance? Fully comprehensive and flexible to your needs, Tempcover’s policies range from 1 hour to 28 days and won’t affect any existing no claims discount.