KENT Police are warning motorists to take extra care as the daylight hours become shorter and the autumnal weather sets in.

The warning follows the sentencing of two motorists who admitted careless driving after a multiple collision in fog on the A20 between Dover and Folkestone on June 30.

It was one of the worst crashes seen on the county’s roads, leaving one man dead. More than 170 vehicles were involved with more than 60 of those damaged.

A 34-year-old Hungarian lorry driver appeared before Folkestone magistrates on October 9 and was fined £250 with £60 costs and five penalty points.

A 54-year-old Austrian lorry driver appeared at Maidstone Magistrates' Court, and was fined £100 with £75 costs, and had nine penalty points imposed on his driving licence.

Insp Paul Sellwood, of Kent Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “The weather conditions at the time of the crash were appalling, with visibility reduced to four car lengths. Drivers were travelling too fast and too close, and were simply unable to avoid the situation that confronted them.

“With autumn weather conditions upon us, with mists already covering much of the county’s roads in the morning, drivers really do have to be mindful of the dangers of driving in adverse weather conditions.

“You cannot afford to gamble that the road in front of you is clear if you cannot see it for yourself."