Autumn Driving Safety Tips

The blog this week is about driving safely during Autumn. Driving with reduced visibility will not only endanger you and your fellow road users but also opens you up to a hefty fine if you are found to be dangerous driving because of your poor visibility. Everyone is trying to save money at the moment, interest rates are rising, fuel bills are rising, food costs are soaring etc so when it comes to owning a car, we need all the help we can get to keep costs down. Read on to find out more:
Autumn driving safety tips:
1) During Autumn there will be a lot of wet, fallen leaves on the roads and pavement which are extremely slippery and can obscure road markings or conceal other hazards, such as potholes. Be extra vigilant and slow down!
2) Deer breeding season is in the autumn, so be vigilant and slow down when driving through rural locations. A lot of damage can be done to your Volvo or Toyota if you hit a deer, not to mention the damage that can be done to yourself and any passengers in the event of an accident.
3) Make sure that your wiper blades are working correctly and not smearing your windscreen and check that all your fluids are topped up regularly.
4) The roads may be icy in the morning if there has been an overnight drop in temperature – less haste on your morning commute!
5) If it is raining, then adjust your driving speeds – stopping distances increase in wet weather so leave plenty of space to the vehicle in front of you. Also make sure that you use your lights so you can be seen. Some modern cars have automatic headlights that come on when a certain level of darkness happens (ie going through a canopy of trees for example) – these do not automatically turn your rear lights on – we see so many people driving at night thinking they have their lights on when they actually don’t!
6) Check your tyre tread depth – use the 20p method that we have spoken about before in plenty of blogs. Also check your tyre pressures – if you are unsure what they should be consult your owner’s manual or check with your local independent garage.
7) If you find that the road you need to go down is flooded, either find an alternative route or drive slowly keeping your engine revs high to avoid stalling. Be aware that bow waves from approaching vehicles can submerge your car so if possible, try and take it in turns to drive through the flooded area. Be mindful of pedestrians and those who are on bikes – being hit by a wave of water can not only be very annoying but is downright dangerous! Remember to pump your brakes once out of the water when it is safe to do so! Happy Safe Motoring Folks!
Here at ACC UK Ltd, Winners of The Motor Trader Independent Garage of The Year 2015, 2019 & 2020, The IGA Big Awards 2022, The Inspire Customer Service Excellence 2016 Award, The Eagle Radio Customer Focus 2017 Business Award, The Workshop Magazine Workshop Manager of the Year 2017 Award, The LiveWire Excellence In Vehicle Servicing 2019 Award and The Aftermarket Excellence Award for Best Website 2019, The Eagle Radio Biz Award – Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 & the SME News Magazine Most Trusted Car Servicing Provider 2020, we pride ourselves on offering an outstanding customer experience for a fraction of the cost of a dealership. Give us a call and let us quote you for your next service or repair on your Volvo or Toyota. We service all areas around Farnborough, Fleet, Aldershot, Farnham, Guildford, Frimley, Camberley, Hook, Sandhurst, Crowthorne, Yateley, Hampshire and Surrey. We offer free collection and drop off services. We also have a fleet of courtesy cars to allow you to get on with your schedule whilst your Volvo or Toyota is with us. Happy Motoring from all at ACC UK Ltd – Independent Volvo & Toyota servicing, repair and MOT specialists based in the heart of Farnborough, Hampshire.