Every season of the year brings some potential hazards to motorists, including threats to your windscreen. Now that summer is over, there won’t be loose chippings flying out of melting tarmac, but autumn brings its own challenges.

This time of year can be a big one for windscreen repair, as the weather changes and the evenings and mornings get darker.

• More dangers of collisions as the light worsens
• Autumn storms increase the risk of debris being blown onto your windscreen
• The first frosts of winter can widen any cracks you have

Insurers advise that you take steps to reduce the risk, such as checking over your car thoroughly and making sure the windscreen is clear, especially as it can get covered with falling leaves.

Incidents like falling debris may be a bigger risk this autumn due to the effects of the ‘Super El Niño’ that is disrupting weather patterns across the globe.

The Met Office has predicted that this will lead to more severe storms this winter, so cars not kept under cover, such as in a garage, may be at greater risk of damage.

Why Should You Check The State Of Your Windscreen At The Start Of Autumn?

However, you should not just be thinking about the risk of windscreen damage and what to do if it occurs. You should also consider how to respond if your windscreen currently has minor damage.

The AA has highlighted that one of the biggest accident risks in autumn is posed by drivers being dazzled by the glare of the sun. Chips and scratches on a windscreen can make this problem a lot worse.

It listed this information alongside checking your windscreen wipers work well and cleaning the windscreen to remove the “hazy film that builds up”.

Getting minor damage fixed may not seem as important as reacting to a windscreen being seriously damaged in a storm, but when it comes to being safe on the road this autumn, it is still very important.