12 Oct 2026
More than half of drivers (53%) say blinding glare from low sun is their biggest worry when driving in autumn, new research shows.
October’s Startline Used Car Tracker also reports that 42% are anxious about slippery or poor road conditions and 40% the brightness of lights from oncoming traffic.
Heavier congestion due to school runs and weather delays is a concern for 37%, while 36% dislike driving in the dark as days shorten and 30% worry about other motorists not switching on their lights in bad weather.
When it comes to their car itself, 26% dislike getting into a cold vehicle in the morning, 24% having to scrape their windscreen and 14% smudgy windscreen wipers.
Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “After a long, dry summer, the arrival of autumn means motorists are having to tackle much more difficult conditions on the roads as the days become shorter and the weather worsens.
“There are many hazards for them to negotiate, but our research shows an overwhelming dislike for the blinding effect of low sun, reflecting off the windscreen and the road. It can make driving feel very risky.
“However, there’s also a range of other factors – more congestion, driving in the dark, poor weather – that cause some degree of anxiety. All of these can make the business of driving seem less safe and require a high degree of concentration.”
The Startline Used Car Tracker also shows seven out of 10 (68%) of motorists get their vehicle checked at this time of year to make sure it is ready for winter motoring.
Paul said: “This is a much higher figure than may perhaps have been expected and shows a large majority of drivers take the business of preparing for tougher conditions seriously.”
The Startline Used Car Tracker is compiled monthly for Startline Motor Finance by APD Global Research, well-known in the motor industry for their business intelligence reporting and customer experience programs. This time, 329 consumers and 60 dealers were questioned.