The Met Office forecast for London on Thursday 15 October shows a cool autumn start before a much warmer afternoon: a minimum of 11°C, a maximum of 21°C, and overcast conditions changing to sunny intervals by late morning. That is a useful reminder that one journey can span noticeably different temperatures, light levels and cabin conditions.
The aim is not to overreact to an ordinary forecast. It is to use the quiet minutes before departure to check the parts of the car most affected by seasonal change, then keep equipment and clothing secure as the day warms.
Check tyres while they are cold
Use the vehicle handbook or the pressure label inside the door frame or fuel flap to find the correct tyre pressures. Check them before driving, when the tyres are cold, and adjust for the load you are carrying. Do not copy the maximum pressure moulded into the tyre sidewall as a normal operating target.
Walk around all four tyres and look for cuts, bulges, embedded objects or visibly low pressure. The Highway Code vehicle-maintenance guidance says tyres must be correctly inflated and free from certain defects, with at least 1.6 mm of tread across the central three-quarters of the breadth and around the entire circumference. If a tyre looks damaged or repeatedly loses pressure, arrange a professional inspection rather than beginning a longer journey.
Prepare the glass for changing light
An overcast dawn can make smears and condensation easy to miss until brighter intervals expose them. Clean the windscreen inside and out, top up suitable screenwash, and check that the wipers clear without streaking. Confirm that the demister, lights, indicators and mirrors are working and clean.
Set the ventilation before moving so that you are not searching for controls while driving. If condensation returns, increase airflow and use the demister. The Highway Code says windscreens and windows must be kept clean and free from obstructions to vision, while lights, reflectors and number plates must also remain clean and clear.
Secure layers and loose equipment
A jacket that is useful at 07:00 may be unnecessary later. Remove bulky layers only when safely parked, and stow them where they cannot slide into the driver footwell or block rearward vision. Secure bottles, umbrellas, shopping and charging cables before leaving. Sudden braking can turn a harmless loose item into a distraction or obstruction.
The same rule applies to emergency equipment. Keep it together, protected and easy to identify. A compact kit in the boot is useful only if luggage does not bury it and every regular driver knows where it is stored.
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This compact kit brings together a high-visibility reflective vest, folding warning triangle and car escape tool with window breaker and seatbelt cutter. Keep the vest reachable before exiting a vehicle and store the other items securely. On a motorway, do not place a warning triangle on the carriageway; follow the Highway Code breakdown procedure and move to a place of relative safety if possible.
Plan for the return journey too
Morning preparation should cover the whole day. Check the forecast again before returning, especially if the car will sit in direct sun or if your route leaves London and the South East. Carry drinking water, keep your phone charged and know where the vehicle handbook and breakdown details are stored.
If the vehicle develops a problem, the Highway Code says to try to stop in a place of relative safety. On motorways and other high-speed roads, a service area is safest where reachable. If you cannot reach one, follow the official breakdown guidance, use hazard lights, keep passengers away from moving traffic and call for help when required.
Run a 60-second departure check
Before moving, confirm four points: tyres look sound and are correctly inflated; glass, mirrors and lights are clean; loose items and extra layers are secured; and roadside equipment is identifiable and reachable. This simple routine suits an ordinary autumn temperature swing without turning a normal commute into a complicated exercise.
Sources: Met Office: London forecast for Thursday 15 October; The Highway Code: vehicle maintenance, safety and security; The Highway Code: breakdowns and incidents.
