Are you ready for fall driving conditions? The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has several driving tips that can help make everyone safer in these early months of autumn:
- Remember to make adjustments for the amount of daylight. We lose a minute of daylight each day until the clocks are set back in November. If you are going outdoors, this safety slogan can be lifesaving: "Be Safe, Be Seen."
- Avoid driving over wet leaves (or through piles.) Wet leaves reduce traction.
- Come to a controlled stop if deer begin to cross the road in front of you. With an active herd, remember: "Don't Veer for Deer!" Motorcyclists should be extra cautious.
-Always remember to keep a fully stocked emergency kit in your vehicle, including food, water, basic tools, and a flashlight.
- Watch out for frost on the road. Frost can make the road surface slippery, especially on bridges and overpasses.
- Plan ahead for changing weather conditions and winterize your vehicle. We're in Michigan - that first snowfall can happen at any time!
- Watch for construction zones that could still be active. Slow down, and pay attention - the life you save could be your own!
"The safety of our roads is a combination of sound engineering, effective enforcement, and sufficient education, which requires action by the motorist," said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. "These basic driving safety tips can potentially save a life."
Fewer hours of daylight later in the afternoon make it more difficult for motorists to see pedestrians, cyclists, and children playing. Drivers are especially reminded to use caution on Halloween when many more parents and children are walking outdoors in the late afternoon and evening hours.
For a more detailed list of the autumn driving safety tips, visit the MDOT website, www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9615-221045-,00.html.