Your Autumn Driving MOT

Simple seasonal checks can help us travel safely and confidently as the days shorten—whether we are driving ourselves, travelling as a passenger or supporting someone else. 

By Nigel Lloyd-Jones, Older Drivers Forum Gloucestershire.

Autumn can be one of the most demanding seasons for drivers.  

Within a few weeks, bright summer conditions give way to darker evenings, low sunlight, heavy rain, fallen leaves, mist and the first morning frosts. Roads that are familiar in August can feel very different by October.  

That makes early autumn a good time to give ourselves—not just our cars—a simple seasonal MOT. 

Start with the driver.  

Our eyesight, hearing, flexibility and reactions can change gradually, so we may not notice a difference from one year to the next. When did you last have an eye test? Are you comfortable turning your head to look over your shoulder? Does stiffness make it harder to get in and out of the car or operate the controls? Regular eye and hearing checks, together with gentle exercise that maintains movement and strength, can help us remain confident behind the wheel. 

Autumn is also the beginning of the cold and flu season. Some prescription and over-the-counter medicines can cause drowsiness, dizziness or slower reactions. A pharmacist or GP can advise whether a medicine—or a change in dosage—could affect driving. It is sensible to find out how a new medicine affects you before setting off alone or making a longer journey. 

Next, check the car.  

Ask someone to help confirm that the headlights, rear lights, brake lights and indicators are working. Check tyre pressures and tread, and make sure the wipers clear the windscreen without smearing. Top up the screenwash with a product suitable for colder weather. Cleaning the inside of the windscreen is equally important: a film of dust or grease can make glare from low sun and oncoming headlights much worse. 

If your car is used mainly for short trips, consider asking a garage to check the battery. Colder weather, lights, heaters and wipers all place extra demands on it. Keep a warm layer, torch, phone charger and high-visibility vest in the car in case a journey is unexpectedly interrupted. 

Finally, give the journey an MOT.  

Allow an extra ten minutes on cold or wet mornings so that every window is clear before moving off. Check the forecast, consider travelling in daylight and choose a route you find comfortable. Increase the distance from the vehicle ahead when roads are wet or covered with leaves, and give pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists extra space. If rain, fog, frost or flooding makes a non-essential journey feel unsafe, postponing it is a sound decision—not a loss of independence. 

Those who no longer drive still have an important role.  

As a passenger, friend or family member, you may help check the weather, plan the route or share concerns kindly. You may also be the person who suggests a lift, community transport or a taxi when conditions are poor. Staying mobile matters, but mobility does not always have to mean driving. 

Experience is one of the greatest safety features any driver possesses.  

A few thoughtful autumn checks can help protect that experience and keep journeys safe, comfortable and enjoyable for everyone.