Monday 28 September begins with low autumn light across parts of southern England. The Met Office forecasts sunrise at about 06:57 in Greenwich and 06:58 around Esher in Surrey, with a largely sunny to partly cloudy day. Conditions vary across the UK, so check the latest local forecast before leaving, but the timing is useful: the first busy journeys can coincide with a low sun angle, school traffic and people walking or cycling to work.
Clear the glass before the low sun arrives
A clean windscreen matters most when sunlight strikes it directly. Dust, dried spray and marks on the inside surface can scatter light and turn a manageable view into a bright haze. Clean both sides of the glass, clear condensation fully, top up washer fluid and confirm that the wipers sweep without broad streaks. Use the demister and sun visor before moving rather than adjusting them while driving.
The Highway Code says windscreens and windows must be kept clean and free from obstructions to vision. Remove loose items from the dashboard, keep phone mounts outside the swept viewing area and make sure nothing in the cabin can slide into the driver footwell. Sunglasses may help in bright conditions, but they are not a substitute for slowing down when the view ahead is limited.
Slow the first busy streets down
Morning school streets demand a wider safety margin. Children may be concentrating on friends, bags or traffic from another direction, and smaller pedestrians can be hidden by parked vehicles. Rules 205 and 206 of the Highway Code tell drivers to be especially careful around schools, playgrounds and places where children are likely to be present. Reduce speed early and be ready to stop without a sharp brake application.
Look for school warning signs, flashing amber signals and a school crossing patrol. Under Rule 210, drivers must stop when a patrol displays the prescribed stop sign. Give cyclists space, avoid squeezing past where the road narrows and do not assume a pedestrian has seen you simply because you can see them.
Keep crossings and school entrances clear
Do not enter a crossing area unless the exit is clear. Queuing across a zebra, pelican or school crossing removes the space people need to see and be seen. When parking, leave junctions, dropped kerbs and school entrances unobstructed. The Highway Code also says drivers must not stop on school entrance markings when stopping is prohibited. Even where a restriction is not active, choosing a different place can give children and families a safer view of moving traffic.
Settle the family-car cabin before moving
Secure school bags, shopping and loose bottles so they cannot move under braking. Check that seat belts are flat and correctly positioned, make sure every passenger is settled, and put the phone on its driving mode before pulling away. If a child needs attention, stop somewhere suitable rather than trying to solve the problem in traffic.
Emergency tools also need a defined, secure location. A window breaker or seatbelt cutter that is loose in the boot may be out of reach, while an unsecured item in the cabin can become a distraction. Store each tool according to its instructions, protected from children but accessible to the intended adult occupant, and review the location when changing vehicles or seating arrangements.
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Keep one securely within reach of the driver and the second near another adult passenger, or place one in each regularly used household car. Check the storage position periodically and never leave either tool loose.
Use the forecast, not a fixed assumption
A bright start in London or Surrey does not describe every UK route, and conditions can change during the day. Check the forecast, traffic and planned works for the actual journey. If glare, fog or cloud reduces the view, adapt speed and following distance to what you can see, not to the speed limit or the behaviour of the vehicle ahead.
The practical Monday routine is simple: clean glass, working washers and wipers, a clear dashboard, secure bags, settled passengers, a slower approach to school streets and crossings kept open. Those small checks remove avoidable surprises before the busiest part of the morning.
Sources: Met Office Greenwich forecast; Met Office Esher forecast; The Highway Code: road users requiring extra care; The Highway Code: vehicle maintenance; The Highway Code: using the road; The Highway Code: waiting and parking.
