Many of our readers are no doubt planning on an autumn drive through the areas of New Mexico where our fall foliage is at its most spectacular. However, when the leaves start falling, they can pose potential dangers for drivers as well as bicyclists and pedestrians.

Most drivers don’t think anything of driving over some leaves that have fallen onto the road. However, as one official with the Automobile Association of America (AAA) notes, “Wet leaves can be as slippery as a sheet of ice.” Whether they have been dampened by rain or a nearby sprinkler system, leaves in the road can be wet — and dangerous.

Even dry leaves can cause driving hazards. Piles of leaves can cover potholes and other road hazards. By unexpectedly hitting a speed bump, a driver can go out of control and cause an accident.

Potholes can also cause serious tire and suspension damage that can cause a vehicle to lose control at an unexpected moment. Therefore, it’s best to avoid driving over leaves in the road if possible or at least slowing down if you can’t avoid them.

Even parking on or near a pile of leaves is unadvisable. A pile of leaves near a curb can attract animals and even small children.

Leaves can also wreak havoc with your car’s exhaust system — particularly if it’s old or out of repair. That’s a recipe for a fire.

Exercising some extra caution around fallen leaves can help you avoid crashes. Of course, we can’t control other drivers’ actions. If you’re injured by another driver, you should find out about your legal options for seeking compensation to help you cover medical bills and other damages.

Most Albuquerque residents have driven some portion of U.S. 550. It runs from just north of the city up to Colorado.

For most of the New Mexico stretch of the four-lane highway, the north- and southbound lanes have only a paved median separating them. There have been several fatal crashes on U.S. 550 resulting from vehicles crossing over the 6-foot paved median. The only other major highway in the state with more deaths is Interstate 40, which carries more traffic.

A study conducted by an engineering and consulting company proposed installing a cable or concrete median to better separate northbound and southbound vehicles. The estimated cost for a cable barrier is $16 million, while a concrete one would run about $92 million. The study suggested that the state may want to try less costly measures such as warning signs and lighting first.

New Mexico’s Transportation Secretary Tom Church said this summer that a median barrier was a viable option to improve safety on U.S. 550. However, in a recent hearing held by state lawmakers, an official who works for the state Department of Transportation said that a barrier wasn’t feasible because the median isn’t wide enough. He also said that it would prevent motorists from being able to make turns along the route. He told lawmakers, “There are still crashes that happen on divided highways. I wouldn’t draw the conclusion that one is better.”

Although U.S. 550 was widened back in 2001, the 6-ft. median is well below the minimum width of 30 feet recommended by the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) back in 1993. While the FHA linked narrower medians to increased crashes, one New Mexico state senator said that drunk and distracted driving are the culprits behind many crashes. He said, “I don’t think it’s the road that is the problem.”

If you’ve been the victim of a car crash, it’s essential to determine the cause. At-fault drivers who are under the influence or otherwise distracted can be held civilly as well as criminally liable. However, if a crash or other incident occurred because a city, county or other government entity didn’t take proper safety precautions, it may be possible to seek damages from them as well. A New Mexico car accident attorney can discuss your legal options with you.