Prepare for autumn driving

Some see autumn as the sad end of summer, but the gentler warmth in the sun, the changing of nature’s colours and the excuse to light the fire in the evenings all hold their appeal.

Each time of year brings different driving conditions too. So along with the seasonal mists and mellow fruitfulness, we should consider the weather’s impact on driving and those necessary checks on our cars.

What should I check on my car?

Tyres

With wetter weather and trees dropping their leaves, roads can become extremely slippery so you should check there is sufficient tread on your car’s tyres. The legal minimum is 1.6mm across three quarters of the tyre’s width although we recommend no less than 3mm. Also check your tyres have the correct pressures - these can usually be found on a sticker on the back of the petrol flap or door shut panel. And of course look at the condition of your tyres, checking for cracks, cuts and bulges.

Batteries

The colder the weather, the greater the load on the battery to start a car. Batteries won’t last for ever; if they are showing signs that they are struggling in autumn - not turning the engine over quickly enough or becoming flat after driving a few short distances - it’s worth changing them before the winter when the demand is even higher.

Antifreeze

If your car has been serviced correctly, the antifreeze in the coolant water - which helps stop corrosion and prevent freezing - should have been checked. If you are unsure, a garage can check it has the right levels. Many garages offer free winter checks.

Lights

Check your bulbs before you need to drive at night. During the summer months, unless driving late into the evening, we can go weeks or months without using our headlamps. So as the nights draw in, we often discover a bulb has failed.

Visibility

With the sun lower in the sky, it is easier to be dazzled so it is worth cleaning all the car’s windows - inside and out - to help reduce glare. It also makes sense to check you are carrying sunglasses in the car. Remember to use your headlights in low sun conditions to help other road users see you.

Autumn is often a time of mists and fog, especially over flatter parts of the country and near water. Use dipped headlights - plus fog lights when visibility is less than 100 metres.

Ice!

Toward the end of autumn, temperatures can drop considerably in the night time and this poses the risk of ice. It means you’ll hear the dawn chorus of drivers scraping windscreens. Some cars - notably Fords - have heated windscreen options which clear the ice quickly. For the rest of us, it means starting the engine and using a scraper to clear the ice.

• Don't use a kettle-full of boiling water - the rapid temperature change can crack windscreens.

• Don't leave your car with the engine running unattended - it will be easy for a thief to drive off and because the keys are in the ignition, the theft probably won't be covered by your insurance company.

• Do wait until the screen is fully defrosted before driving - any area still covered by ice or condensation could obscure your view of pedestrians and other road users.

Of course ice will be found on some roads too. Do check the weather forecast, do check the outside temperature if your car displays this and do drive with care, especially on shady sections of roads where the ice can take longer to thaw.