Autumn can be one of the most challenging times of year for drivers as the transition from warm, sunny weather in August turns to darker, wetter weather.
Mornings and evenings become darker, roads are wetter, fallen leaves can reduce grip and the school run returns, bringing greater congestion and more vulnerable road users into the mix.
Now, new research has highlighted another potential hazard for drivers: road signs obscured by overgrown trees, hedges and vegetation.
Almost one in five drivers surveyed said they had unintentionally exceeded the speed limit because a road sign was hidden by foliage, while more than half said they frequently see signs obscured in this way.
Speed limit signs aren’t the only concern either. Stop and give way signs were also among those drivers reported seeing blocked from view.
Some drivers said they had been forced to brake sharply as a result, while others had accidentally missed give way signs.
Autumn Adds Another Layer Of Risk
At junctions and roundabouts, visibility can become an even bigger issue, with four in five drivers surveyed saying overgrown foliage had made it harder to pull out safely.
For fleet drivers covering hundreds or thousands of miles each month, these issues are worth taking seriously at any time of year, but particularly as we head further into autumn.
Lower light levels can make partially obscured signs even harder to spot, particularly during early morning and evening journeys. Rain and spray can further reduce visibility, while wet roads increase stopping distances if a driver does have to react suddenly.
Then there is the return of heavier commuter and school traffic.
Drivers may encounter more queues, cyclists, pedestrians and children around residential areas and schools, all while adapting to darker conditions after months of summer driving.
It means the margin for error can shrink considerably.
A Good Time To Reinforce Safer Driving
Fleet operators cannot control roadside vegetation or the weather, but they can help drivers manage the increased risks.
Autumn is a useful time to remind drivers to reduce speed when visibility is poor, leave more space between vehicles and avoid relying solely on familiarity with a route. A speed limit or junction layout may have changed since the last journey, so drivers should always actively look for signage rather than assuming they know what lies ahead.
Drivers should also be encouraged to report obscured road signs and other hazards through the appropriate highways authority where possible.
More broadly, this is another reminder of why fleet road safety cannot simply be treated as an annual compliance exercise.
Road conditions, traffic patterns and visibility change throughout the year. Driver risk management needs to adapt with them. As autumn sets in, making drivers more aware of those changing hazards could help prevent avoidable speeding, harsh braking and, most importantly, collisions.
Staying on top of your fleets safety is always important, but especially as conditions change, which is where Fleet Monitor and Risk Monitor can play a valuable role.
