8 ways to drive safely in your Honda this fall

September 9th, 2021 by

Fall is coming, and along with it come additional perils on the road. Driving through Illinois during the fall and early winter months can add new, potentially dangerous situations to summer’s list of driving concerns. Use these tips and tricks to drive safely through the fall in Illinois and the surrounding area.

Stay aware and avoid distraction

Distraction and lack of focus are among the biggest causes of collisions and mistakes during driving. Increasing your awareness of what’s happening on the road around you allows you to more efficiently drive defensively and avoid tough situations. A great way to improve your awareness is to eliminate distractions that might take your attention away from the road.

Choose your music or podcast playlist before you start driving. Ask your friends or family to stay calm so you can focus on the road. Do not look at your phone at any point while you’re driving. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 3,142 people were killed by distracted driving in 2019. Phones are one of the biggest distractions in our modern world, so put yours down and focus on the road ahead to stay ready for anything.

Pack an Emergency Kit

Keeping an emergency kit in your vehicle is a smart idea no matter what season it is, but it becomes more important in the fall and winter months. Prepare for snowy and rainy driving conditions even before they arrive, and you’ll always be ready.

Snow-ready items you should keep in your emergency kit include cat litter, which can give your vehicle a boost in traction should you ever become stuck on a slick surface. Pack a rain poncho to stay drier in case you have to change a flat tire during a rainstorm. Throw an extra set of clothes in the trunk to change into. Think about the situations you might get yourself into during your travels and pack your emergency kit accordingly.

Other items to consider include:

  • Jumper cables
  • First-aid kit
  • Flashlight
  • Flares or eye-catching safety triangles
  • Tools
  • Batteries for your phone, flashlight, etc
  • Snacks
  • Water

Look Out for Wet Roads

Between rainfall and wet leaves on the road, things can get a little slicker during the fall. When the streets are wet, you should not drive as you would on dry roads. Slow down and leave more space between you and the vehicle ahead in case you need to suddenly stop. This increased space will give you more of a chance to come to a stop if the wet roads cause you to slip and slide a bit. 

Beware of the Dark

The days grow shorter and shorter in the fall thanks to the changing seasons and daylight saving time. Traffic accidents occur at a disproportionately higher rate after the sun goes down than before. If you feel uncomfortable driving at night, whether it’s due to vision or confidence, try to limit your nighttime driving, or practice safer driving habits when you have to go out in the dark. Leave more space between your car and the vehicle ahead of you to give yourself more time to react to an unexpected event. Be on the lookout for deer roaming at night, especially at dusk.

Check Your Tire Pressure

Be sure to regularly check your tire pressure to make sure the tires are providing you with decent levels of traction. Too-low and too-high psi levels can weaken the grip your vehicle has on the road. To find your vehicle’s recommended tire pressure level, check your owner’s manual or look at the sticker on the driver’s-side door frame. Make a habit of checking your tire pressure at the very least once a week.

Be Careful in Fog

Fog starts becoming a big problem in some areas during the fall. If you find yourself driving through fog, don’t use your high-beam headlights. This can actually decrease visibility because your headlights are bouncing off the fog back at you. Instead, use low-beam headlights. As in other situations, you should also slow down and leave more space between you and the vehicle ahead of you.

Combat Glare

Blinding glares grow into a larger issue during the fall. Since the sun spends more time on the horizon, it has more opportunities to shine through your windshield and decrease your ability to see clearly. To combat this, keep a pair of sunglasses in your cabin to help preserve your ability to see the road. You should also keep your windshield as clean as you can, both inside and out, as any dirtiness and grime will add to the vision-reducing effects of the sun’s glare.

Resist Driving Through Those Puddles

Though it may sometimes be fun to rush through puddles in your vehicle, you should actually slow down when you encounter them. As puddles form, they also collect the oil, leaves, and other materials on the road. These slick spots can cause you to lose some of your traction, which can lead to hydroplaning. Slow down gradually to keep this from happening, and never speed through a puddle while you’re turning.

Which Hondas Have the Best Safety Ratings?

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick awards are great ways to know if your favorite vehicle has been designed with safety in mind. The top six 2021 Honda models when it comes to safety are:

Those first three models — the Accord, Insight, and Odyssey — all received the Top Safety Pick+ award. The Top Safety Pick+ award is given to vehicles that deliver an even higher level of excellence in safety and security than what is required to receive a standard Top Safety Pick award.

These driving tips are just a few of the best ways to improve your safety during autumn drives. If you want to take your safety to a new level, give our team a visit at Ike Honda in Marion, Illinois. Finding a Honda that increases your safety on the road isn’t difficult — it’s deciding which Honda model is perfect for you that’s the hard part.

Posted in Honda Drivers