RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
October 24, 2002
ACCIDENTS GO UP WHEN CLOCKS GO BACK
The number of people killed and injured in road accidents is certain to rise again after the clocks go back this weekend unless drivers take more time, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents warned today.
Road crashes sadly increase after the clocks change, with the arrival of darker evenings and worsening weather conditions. Last year the number of people killed on Britain’s roads in November was 332 – a rise of 29 on the previous month. The total number of injuries in road accidents went up by 888 to 28,863.
In the long term, RoSPA would like to see a change in the law so that evenings are lighter all year round. This could prevent around 450 deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads each year.
Kevin Clinton, RoSPA Head of Road Safety, said: “It is well known that road accidents increase after we put the clocks back. Dark evenings and poor weather are bad news for all road users. They make it difficult for people to see and be seen.
“Ideally we would like to see the law changed to give us lighter evenings at this dangerous time of year and in the summer too. But that is not going to happen at the moment and therefore we must do all we can to reduce the number of accidents.”
He urged motorists to watch their speed and allow plenty of time for their journeys so that they were not tempted to speed and take other risks if they were delayed. They should remember that they were less likely to see vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Drivers should check their lights and brakes and have their cars serviced for the winter.
Parents should ensure their children wear bright clothing, preferably with fluorescent or reflective strips. They should check cycles to make sure reflectors are clean and fit new batteries to lights.
Children should be reminded that it will soon be dark on their way home and that it will be difficult for motorists to see them.
“The best way to stem the rise in winter accident rates is for us all to take more care and give ourselves and others more time when we are using the roads,” Kevin Clinton said.
