Connecticut has some stunning fall foliage, to be sure. According to the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, it’s peak leaf-watching season in the state.
While local drivers may not gawk at the dramatic displays of color along the state’s rural roads right now, you can be sure that you will encounter at least one seasonal hazard: Tourists. Bed-and-breakfasts, rural cabins and country motels are usually filled at this time of the year by people from urban areas and out-of-state visitors.
What to remember if you’re sharing the road with leaf-peepers
Fore-warned is fore-armed, or so the saying goes. Just keeping the idea that there are a lot of tourists out there on the roads right now in the back of your mind can help you stay safer. To improve your odds of avoiding a wreck on the rural roads you travel:
- Watch for changes in speed limits. Rural roads tend to pop through sparsely populated areas and little towns, which means the speed limits will go up and down. Don’t let any tourists who aren’t watching the posted limits push you into speeding.
- Watch for out-of-state plates. If you happen to be traveling behind a car with out-of-state plates, it’s safer to assume that the driver doesn’t know the roads. Back up and give them plenty of room in case they need to brake suddenly, or their attention wanders.
- Don’t pass anybody unnecessarily. If you happen to hit a straight patch on the road where passing is allowed, you may want to scoot around a tourist that’s clearly taking their time to appreciate nature’s display. Just don’t be in a rush and take any chances when the way isn’t 100% clear.
Ultimately, you can’t control what other people do on the road, and not everybody is as cautious as you. If you end up in a wreck with a negligent out-of-state driver, find out more about what it takes to hold them accountable for your losses.