October and November among the most dangerous months for driving

16 November 2021

The recent Young Rural Drivers campaign by the AA Charitable Trust studying drivers’ autumnal pet hates found that October and November are among the most dangerous months for young, rural drivers.

The data has since been used to create an interactive map for drivers to see which rural roads near them are the most potentially hazardous for young drivers.

Interestingly, new road crash data collected by the government backs up this theory of autumnal danger, as the risk of ‘dazzling sun’ as a contributing factor to road traffic accidents in autumn months doubled in motorbike crashes and trebled for cyclist crashes in 2020.

Autumnal pet hates

Many of us have at least one or two driving pet hates, but the recent AA Charitable Trust research delved deeper into autumn-specific irritants. 

The biggest pet-hates ranked as follows:

• Dazzle from the sun when low in the sky (76%)
• Other drivers not using their lights properly (50%)
• Inconspicuous pedestrians and cyclists (49%)
• Fog (40%)
• Other cars with defective lights (39%)

Other key statistics included: 

• 50 per cent of drivers reported finding misuse of vehicle lights in the dark to be annoying.
• 82 per cent of drivers aged 65+ disliked driving in dazzling autumnal sunlight.
• 55 per cent of 18-24-year olds admitted to being frustrated by defrosting their windscreen in the colder months.
• 40 per cent of young drivers struggle to navigate surface water, such as puddles, when driving.

AA Charitable Trust Director Edmund King said, “The clocks go back this month and with it brings even more seasonal hazards on the roads.

“Data from our recent Young Rural Drivers campaign, as well as the latest government road crash statistics shows these months, and the hazards they bring, pose particular risks to vulnerable road users such as young drivers, cyclists and motorcyclists. 

“Dazzling sun, misuse of headlights and poor visibility can be challenging for experienced drivers, but for those who are new to the roads they can be particularly difficult to navigate safely”. 

Safety is a top priority to all of us at Marshall Leasing, and we are delighted to be on hand to keep your drivers safe this autumn and winter. If you would like to find out more about our fleet management solutions and additional services, please get in touch using the contact information below.

Contact us for Minibus Leasing

At Marshall Minibus, safety is our top priority, and we are delighted to keep you up to date with the latest news on road safety.  

To find out more about our minibus leasing services for schools, colleges, universities and charities, please contact us on 01480 220444 or email info@marshall-minibus.co.uk. 

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