Motorist Safety Tip: Watch Where The Leaves Fall

It's the season again when leaves are everywhere and officials are warning motorists of the dangers associated with them. Fire departments in the Washington metro area are reminding motorists that parking on a pile of dry leaves can be a fire hazard.

John Townsend of AAA Mid-Atlantic says the underside of a vehicle can get very hot after being driven for only a short period of time.

"With a catalytic converter the underside of a car or the undercarriage can heat up to 400 degrees and 600 degrees and in some cases it's a recipe for a leaf fire. Especially if their piled up under the catalytic converter or directly about the catalytic converter," Townsend says.

Townsend also reminds motorists that wet leaves pose a driving hazard because they could cause a vehicle to slip and slide. He advises drivers to slow down if you have to drive over wet leaves.