How to Prevent A Car Accident: Fall Safety Tips
The first several weeks of fall in the Pacific Northwest are usually beautiful with a little rain and plenty of sunshine, even if temperatures are starting to cool. Still, we all know what lies ahead as we inch toward standard daylight time: darker evenings, and colder, wetter weather. We could even see ice or snowfall by the end of November. As we transition out of summer weather, it’s a great time to ask the question, how to prevent a car accident? Here are fall driving safety tips to reduce our chances of getting into a car accident.
How to prevent a car accident: Fall safety tips
Watch out for kids
In early fall, kids tend to be outside a lot doing things like walking to and from school, playing in leaves, riding their bikes, and, of course, trick-or-treating on Halloween. Drivers should be especially aware of kids who may wander out from behind a parked car or jet down their driveway onto the road. Slow down when you are driving in neighborhoods, keep clear eyes on the road, and always follow school zone speed limits and stop for school buses.
Compensate for poor visibility
Fall tends to bring fog and rain and as the season wears on, plenty of darkness. The sun can also create a glare off of wet roads. Knowing that visibility may be diminished in the fall means that we need to be extra careful when we get behind the wheel. Avoid any driving distractions, slow down, and use your dimmed headlights or sunglasses if it makes it easier to see. If the fog is very heavy, try to avoid driving until it clears up.
Slow down on wet roads
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, 75 percent of weather-related crashes happen on wet pavement and 47 percent happen during rainfall. Almost 5,700 people are killed and more than 544,700 people are injured in car crashes on the wet pavement every year.
In a couple of weeks, the rain is likely to start and be a consistent part of our local weather pattern for several months. When the roads are wet, accidents increase as drivers fail to slow down and leave extra space in between them and the vehicle in front of them. The best thing you can do to prevent an accident on wet roads is to drive defensively: slow down, leave extra room, and brake earlier than you would normally.
Watch out for black ice
As nighttime temperatures keep dropping down further, we are more likely to get black ice in early morning commutes. Leave plenty of time to get to where you need to go so you can clear your windows and slow down in icy patches.
Check tire pressure
Variable temperatures can cause your tires to condense or expand; cold weather can cause low tire pressure. Check your vehicle’s manual for the correct tire pressure and test each tire’s pressure reading on a regular basis. Refill tires that are running low to ensure safe handling of your vehicle.
Seek the help of a car accident attorney
If you or a loved one was injured because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from an insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County, and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing upfront and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Sources:
https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/weather_events/rain_flooding.htm#:~:text=Most%20weather%2Drelated%20crashes%20occur,crashes%20on%20wet%20pavement%20annually.
