• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

Keches Law Group is now the official law firm of The New England Patriots - Learn More

offical injury law firm of the New England Patriots, Boston Bruins and Free Jacks

en_US English
en_US English es_ES Español pt_BR Português do Brasil
Free Confidential Consultation  (617) 898-0808

Keches Law Group

Workers' Compensation and Injury Lawyers

  • Home
  • Attorneys
  • Practice Areas
    • Personal Injury
    • Workers’ Compensation
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Class Actions
    • Employment Law
    • Social Security Disability
    • Accidental Disability Retirement
    • Insurance Disputes
  • Case Results
  • Client Reviews
  • About
    • News & Media
    • Careers
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • No Fee Policy
    • Keches Cares™ Giving
    • Scholarship Essay Contest
    • Attorney Referrals
  • Search
  • Contact Us
  • en_USEnglish
  • es_ESEspañol
  • pt_BRPortuguês do Brasil

Mobile Menu

  • Home
  • Attorneys
  • Practice Areas
    • Personal Injury
    • Workers’ Compensation
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Class Actions
    • Employment Law
    • Social Security Disability
    • Accidental Disability Retirement
    • Insurance Disputes
  • Case Results
  • Client Reviews
  • About
    • News & Media
    • Careers
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • No Fee Policy
    • Keches Cares™ Giving
    • Scholarship Essay Contest
    • Attorney Referrals
  • Search
  • Contact Us

Call Now. We’re available 24/7.

Se habla español

(617) 898-0808

You are here: Home / News / Learn / Drive Safe: Road Safety Tips for Autumn

Drive Safe: Road Safety Tips for Autumn

October 5, 2023 //  by Keches Law

Fall isn’t just about football games and pumpkin spice lattes; it comes with its own seasonal safety issues. When you’re on the road this autumn, you need to take note of several potential dangers. 

The clearest sign of autumn is when the leaves fall, coating yards until they are inevitably raked away. But remember that the same leaves fall onto the road too. 

Watch out for Fallen Leaves on Autumn Roads 

You might be planning to take a vacation during the fall months to spot the changing leaves and foliage. But you may not realize that after those leaves fall, they can stick to the road and lead to a lot of trouble. 

You might park further from sidewalks because of leaf piles. Fallen leaves block drainage and cause puddles and slick roads. They hide potholes and road markings from you, and most importantly, turn slick and slippery when left on the road. 

When leaves stick to the road, they can be as slick as ice. If your car slides on the leaves, remain calm, and don’t slam on the brakes. Continue to turn the way you want to go and let go of the gas pedal. 

It can be especially difficult to stop on wet leaves because a layer of water coats the top of the leaves like it does with ice and cars aren’t as good at stopping in water. In fact, if you’re driving 45 miles per hour and you want to stop, you need 80 feet of space, but on slick wet leaves, the amount of space increases to 200 feet. 

Avoid these issues by being prepared. Clean leaves off your car before you leave, slow down if you see leaf-covered roads, keep a proper distance between your car and the ones around you and make sure your car has good tires. 

Less Sunlight Poses a Fall Driving Problem 

In the months leading up to the end of daylight savings time, the dark comes earlier and earlier  and the driving fatality rate per mile of travel is about 3 times higher during the night. So slow down, put extra space between you and the car in front of you, turn off any distractions and focus on the road. 

There are some other preventative measures to take as well: 

  • Keep your headlights clean and in working order. 
  • Watch for pedestrians and bikers. 
  • Watch for children at bus stops or walking to and from school. 
  • Keep an eye out for deer. Fall is deer-breeding season so watch for them in the road. Deer often travel in groups so if one crosses the road, be sure to watch for more to follow. 

Fog, Frost and Fall 

With the weather changing, it’s more likely to wake up to a frost covered car or a foggy haze to drive through. 

Driving in fog and dealing with frost can be handled in 5 steps. 

  1. Prepare. Before you leave, take the time to scrape the ice off not only your windshield, but your mirrors, side windows and back window. Warm your car up and turn on the defroster. 
  1. Take your time. Worse conditions should always be approached through the lens of safety first. Frost can lead to slippery roads, and fog requires close attention. You should go into your drive with the attitude “You’ll get there when you get there.” 
  1. Make yourself visible. Fog makes it hard for you to see. But it also makes it harder for everyone else to see you. High beam lights cause glare, which makes it more difficult to see, but if you turn on your low beam lights other people will be able to give you the proper distance on the road. 
  1. Stay in your lane. If the fog is thick, watch the lines on the center and side of the road to make sure you are staying in the lane you are supposed to. 
  1. Know when to take a break. If the fog is impassible, turn on your hazard lights and pull off the road into a safe location. Wait for the conditions to improve before continuing. If there isn’t a safe place to go, pull off the side of the road and park. Keep your hazard lights on but turn off your headlights. Take your foot off the brake and put on your emergency brake so no one will accidentally run into you by following your brake lights. 

>> I Think I Have a Concussion. What Do I Do?

Student Safety with Fall School Traffic 

During the school year, more cars are on the road, more kids are walking to school and more bikes are riding on the side of the road. Make sure you’re being careful, safe and taking your time as you drive through school zones and before and after school hours. The most dangerous hours of the day for school-aged pedestrians are between 7-8 a.m. and 3-4 p.m. 

Pedestrian injuries are the fifth leading cause of injury-related death for children ages 5 to 19 in the United States, so be prepared for frequent stops and follow all traffic laws regarding school buses.  

>> Some Other Ways to Make Sure You’re Being Safe on the Road

Other Fall Driving Safety Tips 

Tire Maintenance. As temperatures drop, so does tire pressure. Check your tires for adequate tread and proper inflation to improve traction on slippery roads. 

Vehicle Maintenance. Regular maintenance is important all the time, but make sure your brakes, lights, and fluids are in good condition this fall. 

Sun Glare Awareness. Sunrises and sunsets can create blinding glare. Keep sunglasses handy and use your sun visor as needed. 

Check Your Vehicle’s Heater and Defroster. The car heater and defroster are crucial when it starts getting cold out. Before the cold weather hits, ensure they are working correctly to keep your windows clear and passengers warm. 

Use Your Defogger Correctly. The problem that no one knows the answer to: do you use hot air or cold air to defrost your windows? As it turns out, you should use both! Turn on the heat and the air conditioning, as the air conditioner helps to remove moisture from the air and clears fogged windows more quickly. 

As the leaves fall, daylight fades, and school zones become busier, you need to prioritize safety. So adapt your driving habits and appreciate the beauty of autumn while ensuring you arrive at your destination safely! 

Injured in a Fall Traffic Accident? We Can Help! 

Have you, your child, or someone you know been involved in a collision due to traffic? The experienced personal injury lawyers at Keches Law Group can help. 

Contact us today with any questions or to request a free case review. 

Category: Learn, NewsTag: Autumn, Fall, kECHES lAW gROUP, personal injury, Road Safety, traffic accident

Looking for help? or just have a question?

Contact us for a free, no obligation consultation today. It won’t cost a thing and it’s 100% confidential.

Call, chat or email us today.

Contact Us

Previous Post: « Catching up with Catches for College 
Next Post: Legal Guide to Traumatic Brain Injury Claims »

Primary Sidebar

Free Case Evaluation

Call 617-898-0808 for immediate help or fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you ASAP.

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Secure Form

[brb_collection id="2306"]

Footer

About Us
Keches Cares™
Careers
Diversity & Inclusion
Scholarship
Attorney Referrals
No Fee Policy

Recent Blog Posts:

  • Gallery: Salute To Nurses 2025
  • Keches Law Group Proudly Sponsors Boston Globe’s “Salute To Nurses” Celebration
  • We Built This City – Celebrating the workers who keep New England going
  • Keches Law Group Celebrates Five Attorneys Listed Among Best Lawyers®

Contact Us

We are available 24/7 by phone

Se habla Español / Portugues
en_US English
en_US English es_ES Español pt_BR Português do Brasil


Office Hours:
Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5 PM

Saturday, Sunday and evening appointments available upon request.

We’re just a call or click away if you need help.

617-898-0808

Contact Us By Email →

Follow Us:


The Official Injury Law Firm of: official injury law firm

  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • ADA Notice
  • Blog
  • Press Releases

Site Footer

We serve all of MA, NH, RI, CT including the following locations: Bristol County including Attleboro, Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton; Norfolk County including Brookline, Dedham, Franklin, Milton, and Quincy; Worcester County including Fitchburg, Leominster, Shrewsbury, Westborough, and Worcester; Hampden County including Ludlow, Springfield, West Springfield, and Westfield; Middlesex County including Cambridge, Framingham, Lowell, and Medford; and Plymouth County including Brockton and Plymouth.

Attorney advertisement disclaimer: the information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. Any information submitted through a form is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Copyright © 2025 Keches Law Group · All Rights Reserved

en_US English
en_US English
es_ES Español
pt_BR Português do Brasil