Driving in Cold Weather Hazards

Be vigilant when driving as temperatures drop and be aware when driving through wooded or field areas. Below are some tips & facts for various situations.

Darkness

"When Daylight Saving Time ends, many people will find themselves spending more time driving in the dark,” the National Safety Council (NSC) warns.

“Depth perception, color recognition and peripheral vision can be compromised in the dark, and the glare of headlights from an oncoming vehicle can temporarily blind a driver.”

Though just 25% of our driving is at night, 50% of traffic deaths occur then, according to the NSC.

Tip: Slow down and always make sure your headlights are in good working order.

Critters

You're 3.5x as likely to hit an animal, especially a deer, in November as at any other time of the year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says.

Pennsylvania is among the top 5 states with the highest proportion of collision with animal claims in 2018/2019 according to the Institute.

An adult deer, the smallest of several breeds of hoofed mammals, can weigh 300 pounds+ which can cause a serious impact.

Tip: Slow down and be aware when driving through wooded areas or other wildlife habitats.

Leaves

As the foliage falls and winds blow, leaves litter the road. They can cause motorists to park farther from the curb to accommodate piles, create puddles as they block drainage, hide potholes and pavement markings, prompt bicyclists to stray from their designated lanes and turn into a slick mess when they coat the road during rain.

That's because wet leaves create a mat that reduces traction no matter how new your tires are.

Tip: Make sure you have plenty of stopping distance to avoid a rear-ender.

Dampness

We think of big puddles as dangerous, and they are because front wheels can float, and you can lose steering. This is known as hydroplaning.

Even before the puddles accumulate, rain can pool on the dust, grime and oil that are on all roads and make the pavement slick. That's especially true if your area hasn't had rain in a while.

Tip: Slow down so you can anticipate those spots that can turn into accident areas. If you're on a busy road, you can drive in the tracks of cars ahead of you where the road is driest.

Glare

In fall, the sun moves closer to the horizon which then points straight into your eyes and makes it more likely to reflect at low angles off buildings, other cars and windows.

This glare leads to many accidents due to lack of visibility. Remember to have your sunglasses handy.

Glare from other cars starts in the evening. Do your best to keep from looking directly into the lights of oncoming traffic when you drive at night.

Tip: Day and night, keep your windshield clear, so dirt streaks don't contribute to the glare

Fog & Frost

Otherwise refreshing chilly autumn mornings can trigger fog, reducing your vision and distance perception. This is when you're supposed to use those fog lights that many cars have. They shine wide, low beams along the road and onto the edges of a street, which also is helpful for critter spotting. Don't use them instead of your regular headlights but rather in addition to low-beam headlights.

Tip: Don't click on your high beams. Those make visibility worse because the bright light bounces off the fog and right back into your eyes.

Tip: When temperatures have been cold enough that moisture on the road has turned to ice in spots, slow down.

Tip: Pay special attention to bridges and overpasses. All those “bridge freezes before road” signs are serious.