With September coming to a close, fall has come into full-swing in Minnesota. Though autumn does not typically have high motor vehicle accident and fatality rates as the summer or winter, the season still has numerous road obstacles that could put local drivers in serious danger. October is the month where motorists will begin to experience these seasonal changes the most, so it is important for you to be aware of these threats so you can adjust your driving accordingly.
Drunk drivers
While intoxicated motorists are a danger with every month, Minnesotans need to be especially careful during the first two weekends in October. Multiple parts of the state celebrate Oktoberfest during this period, with the Twin Cities and northern areas featuring a significant portion of the festivities. The National Safety Council determined that there was a cost of around $286 million in alcohol-related crashes for Minnesota in 2016. Oktoberfest marks the beginning of holiday weekends that involve heavy drinking, so stay away from cars that has inconsistent speed and steering patterns.
Shifting sunlight
The sun continues to rise later and set earlier as the month goes on. What makes this troubling for Minnesota motorists that work from 8 to 5 is that sun glare is more bound to happen during their drive to work and back. Studies show that sun glare causes hundreds of accidents every year, and these are the most difficult moments of the day to rely on your sun visor to increase your visibility. In case it starts becoming too much of a problem, you should consider leaving for work at a different time or finding an alternate route with less traffic.
Deer season
Though November is the peak month for deer-vehicle crashes, late October marks the beginning of deer mating season. Deer are typically seen on the sides of rural roadways and forests, both which are plentiful in the state. The Minnesota Department of Commerce warns drivers to get comprehensive coverage to prepare for unpredictable obstacles such as deer. They also cite State Farm stating that the national average cost per claim is nearly $4,000 and that Minnesotans have nearly a 1-in-80 chance of hitting a deer.
With all of these newer obstacles for motorists to face, many of the state’s motorists will not adjust to the shifting conditions fast enough. If you end up as the unfortunate victim of one of these unprepared drivers, you can potentially pursue legal action against them to receive compensation for injuries and damages. A costly accident is the last thing you need before Minnesota’s winter arrives.
