Clocks go back this weekend

Road users are being warned of the dangers

With the clocks set to go back this weekend, many drivers may find themselves struggling to see when getting around in the dark. Rhydian Jones, motor expert at Confused.com car insurance is available for interview on the topic.

Rhydian Jones, motor expert at Confused.com car insurance comments:

“The clocks going back this weekend signifies the start of the colder season, which is usually cosy and festive. But it also means that our evenings will get darker earlier, and this can be an issue for drivers. Our research found that 2 in 5 (40%) are likely to avoid driving in the dark.

“This could be down to a variety of factors, but things like bright LED headlights and general visibility can be a problem. That’s as nearly half (48%) of drivers admit difficulty seeing the road due to the glare of oncoming headlights. And over half (58%) think their eyesight is worse when driving in the dark, compared to during the day time.

“If driving at night time, cyclists, children and pedestrians might be hard to spot, especially if they're not wearing any reflective clothing. And animals, such as cats, dogs or wildlife could also be a hazard. In order to stay safe on darker roads, make sure to:

• Drive slowly on residential roads. This way, you should have enough reaction time if anyone steps out into the road.
• Check your headlights are working. This is a legal requirement, so you should do this regularly.
• Bright headlights can dazzle other drivers, so use low beam headlights when necessary. This includes when driving down dark country roads when a car is approaching from the opposite direction or when there's a vehicle in front of you.
• Adjust your rear view mirror if another driver is dazzling you from behind.
• Keep your windscreen clean from dirt to reduce glare.
• And if you wear glasses, lenses with an anti-reflective coating can also help.

“Our guide to how to stay safe when driving at night will help make sure you’re extra careful as the darker nights start drawing in.”