10/20/2026
🍂 Fall Driving in the Lower Mainland: Hazards to Watch For
From Vancouver to the Fraser Valley, fall brings wet roads, foggy mornings and shorter days. Changing conditions can affect visibility, traction and stopping distance, making it especially important to anticipate hazards before they develop.
🌧️ Wet Roads: Rain can make pavement slippery, particularly during the first rainfall after a dry spell. Leave extra following distance and adjust your speed to the road and traffic conditions.
🍁 Wet Leaves: Leaves can reduce traction, especially around corners and intersections. Watch for leaf-covered pavement and avoid sudden braking or steering.
🌫️ Fog: Fog can reduce visibility with little warning. Use your low-beam headlights, leave extra space and make sure your speed allows you to stop within the distance you can see ahead.
🌅 Glare & Shorter Days: Low-angle sunlight and darker commutes can make pedestrians, cyclists and other road users harder to see. Keep your windshield clean, use your headlights when needed and pay close attention at crossings.
💦 Standing Water: Pooled water can hide road hazards and increase the risk of hydroplaning. Avoid flooded areas, watch for pooling water and stay alert to changes in traction.
🚗 Changing Traffic Conditions: Rain and reduced visibility can make busy routes, including Highway 1 and Highway 99, more challenging. Allow extra travel time and anticipate sudden changes in traffic flow.
Before you head out, check that your tires, lights and wipers are in good condition. Above all, look ahead, leave yourself room to respond and adjust your driving to the conditions.
👉Good defensive driving starts with anticipating what happens next.
