RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

October 30, 2000
CLOCKS MOVE WILL SEE ACCIDENTS SOAR, RoSPA WARNS

Moving the clocks back this weekend will signal another surge in the number of road accidents, unless all road users begin to take more care, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said today.

Dave Rogers, RoSPA Road Safety Adviser, said: "As soon as the clocks go back we start to see an increase in road accidents. The figures peak in November and December and something must be done to prevent this.

"Darker evenings and deteriorating weather conditions are a fatal combination. They spell trouble for everyone using the roads, whether they are drivers, riders or pedestrians."

A total of 699 people were killed on Britain’s roads in November and December last year and 58,726 were hurt - an increase of 113 deaths and 2,111 injuries on the previous two months.

Dave Rogers said that as the nights became darker, motorists needed to watch their speed and be aware that they were less likely to see vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. People should check their lights and brakes and have their cars serviced for the winter.

Parents should ensure their children could be seen clearly by wearing bright clothing, preferably with fluorescent or reflective strips.

They should check cycles to make sure reflectors were clean and fit new batteries to lights.

Children should be reminded that it would soon be dark on their way home and that it would be difficult for motorists to see them.

"We must do everything we can to protect our children at this time of year. If things do not improve, we will not meet the Government’s target of reducing deaths and serious injuries among children on our roads by 50 per cent over the next 10 years," Dave Rogers said.