The driving environment changes when seasons change. Did you know that fall is the most dangerous season of the year for driving on Virginia roads? Over the last 10 years, 8,034 people were killed in crashes on Virginia roadways. Of those deaths, 10% occurred in October, making it statistically the most dangerous month of the year for crash fatalities.
September and November bring their own unique challenges for Virginia drivers and car insurance. With summer in the rearview mirror and kids back to school, roadways become more dangerous due to increased activity, seasonal changes, and changes in routine. The most serious threats to driving safety, such as speeding, aggressive driving, and distracted driving, can result in higher car insurance rates.
Let's count down the top fall dangers for Virginia drivers and help you cope with them. Number one might surprise you!
Top 5 Fall Virginia Driving Dangers Countdown
#6 Tire Traction
You know the dashboard light that notoriously visits this time of year. Fall temperature fluctuations can upset your car's tire pressure. Temperature drops cause the air pressure outside to drop. When the air inside your tires contracts due to lower atmospheric pressures caused by cold air, there’s less flexibility for it to move around and expand back out when it warms up again later on. This results in decreased tire pressure over time. You'll want to avoid abrupt movements or sudden turns to make up for this change and keep up with tire maintenance.
#5 Creeping Fog
Chilly morning and evening temperatures and warm fall days inevitably lead to foggy roadways! Fog occurs more so in low-lying areas, so be aware of a sudden change in road conditions while driving. Adjust your speed and keep your distance from the cars ahead of you to allow more time to stop. Use your low beams rather than high for better visibility. High beams obscure your vision by reflecting the fog’s water molecules, causing a glare. Speaking of glares...
#4 Sun Glare
The sun becomes a significant issue for drivers as summer wanes. As our days get shorter in the fall, the sun moves closer to the horizon and makes it more likely to reflect at low angles and point straight into your car, especially with the end of daylight savings. It also bounces off buildings, windows, and other vehicles, creating sudden blinding while driving. Adjusting your speed is critical during this time of day. Having an easily accessible pair of sunglasses is helpful too.
Even better, this is an opportune time to clean the inside of your windshield. That accumulation of dust, smudges, and smears is magnified when your windshield reflects bright light. Use that visor, too- it can quickly save you from a sudden glare!
#3 Deer Collisions (And Other Critters)
Did you know Virginia often makes the list of the top high-risk states for deer collisions? You should expect deer to be active in Virginia in the fall when they looking for mates during rut season. Be sure to drive carefully from early October to late November and use our tips to avoid hitting a deer. Keep in mind our comprehensive car insurance includes no-fault deer collision claims. If you can not avoid a deer collision, you won't have to worry about increasing rates. We can also help you navigate this unfortunate event and easily file a claim.
#2 Diminishing Daylight
Our days are shortening, and we return to standard time on Sunday, November 5th. We may gain an hour of sleep, but adjusting after driving in long-lasting summer daylight isn't easy. Human reactions are much slower in the dark, and low visibility conditions call for increased stopping distances. According to the National Safety Council, 50% of traffic fatalities happen at night. So, slow down and take your time in the mornings and evenings. That happens to be when those deer are most active too!
Increased stopping distances bring us to the #1 fall driving danger:
#1 Wet Leaves
Not what you were thinking, right? This weather channel video gives you a good idea of how wet leaves combine with speed to make for the most dangerous of all fall driving:
Leaves’ waxy surface prevents water absorption creating simulated patches of ice. With 60% of the state of Virginia is covered with trees, that's 15.72 million acres of forestland! Add a fog and rain mix into this fall driving equation. You get a slick, wet blanket covering a road filled with unsuspecting drivers and 105 pounds of hormonal wildlife zig-zagging across their path. Yikes! it's to best maintain stability and braking before you get to those patches of wet leaves, instead of as you’re driving over them. Our car insurance claim experts have more valuable tips for driving in the rain to keep you and your family safe.
Tips to avoid a deer collision
There are practical things you can do to avoid a deer collision:
- Be aware of roadside deer warning signs- they are posted in that area for a reason.
- Deer travel in herds, so if you see one, more are bound to be close or following.
- Deer travel most frequently at dawn and dusk, just in time for your work commute. Use your high beams whenever possible.
- If you encounter an animal while driving, brake and do your best not to hit it, but do not swerve and risk running off the road.
And if you do hit a deer, no worries. You may report a claim online or call our Claims Hotline at 877-968-7252.
How to keep your car insurance rates low this fall
While there are many factors that impact car insurance rates, especially in the last few years, there are also smart ways to save on auto insurance in Virginia. Here are a few no-brainers:
- Buckle up! (Data from NTHSA reports seat belt compliance rates in Virginia fall at the bottom of the list when compared to other states at 73.2 percent.)
- Slow down. (There were over 25,274 speed-related crashes in Virginia in 2023.)
- Don't drive distracted. (Distracted driving caused 21,528 crashes in Virginia last year.)
Learn more about car insurance in Virginia
Sources:
https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813615
https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/documents/VA-traffic-crash-2023.pdf
THE NORTHERN NECK INSURANCE INTEGRITY PROMISE — We pledge to provide straight talk and good counsel from our NNINS Virginia insurance experts through our blog. While we hope you find this to be a helpful source of information, it does not replace the guidance of a licensed insurance professional, nor does it modify the terms of your Northern Neck Insurance policy in any way. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy.
