Cyclists, horse riders, pedestrians and
school children have been reminded to take extra care on the roads now that the
lights have gone back and the afternoons are set to get dark earlier.
On Sunday (October 30th),
British Summer Time came to an end, which meant the clocks went back one hour.
Therefore, last week’s 17:00 is now today’s 16:00, making evenings start
earlier and days seem shorter.
As a result of this, IAM
RoadSmart issued some advice on how to make
driving in the dark as safe as possible, being particularly careful to look out
for those crossing the streets.
“Make allowances for your own abilities
in darkness; your eyes take time to get used to the dark. And be aware others
might not be as careful as you, and might not be wearing reflective or bright
clothing as they should do,” said IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving standards’
Richard Gladman.
The organisation suggested making sure
headlights are working properly, clearing windows of ice and frost, using
dipped headlamps in reduce daylight as well as at nighttime, and increasing the
distance between cars.
It is also wise to look out for
vulnerable road users, such as cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians, and
when driving near schools at pick-up and drop-off times.
Drivers were advised to “keep your eyes
peeled and avoid speeding” to ensure they are able to see pedestrians who may
be still wearing dark clothing.
Last month, a 51-year-old man was killed
when he was hit by a car as he was walking down an unlit road in Fishtoft, Spalding
Today reported.
This highlights the importance of wearing high vis
clothes at night, particularly during the
winter months when it can get dark in the mid-afternoon.