Warning issued to all drivers ahead of the clocks going back this weekend

dailyrecord.co.uk:

This weekend marks the start of longer, darker nights, as the clocks are set to go back one hour.The change will happen on Sunday, October 29, and although it means we get an extra hour in bed in the mornings, it also means it'll get darker much quicker in the evenings.Because of this, drivers are being urged to take extra care and precautions, as the change in conditions could lead to more accidents happening.The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents supports a call to abolish Daylight Savings Time (DST), citing research that found road traffic collisions increase by 19% in the 2 weeks after putting the clocks back one hour, and reduce by 11% when we put the clocks forward.With that in mind, motoring experts at CarMats.co.uk put together a few tips on how to be safe and avoid breaking the law too. Keep your headlights clean and clear Failing to properly clean your headlights could mean they’re not as bright, significantly impacting your ability to see at night, as well as being seen by other drivers.

Rule 229 of the Highway Code states that “you must ensure that lights are clean”, and motorists caught breaking this, with lights that are obscured, could land an on-the-spot fine of anywhere between £30-£100.

This could soar to around £1,000 if the case goes to court. Ensure your vehicle is in good working order This includes checking tyre pressure, engine oil levels, and that your lights are working properly.

These precautions should be part of your routine maintenance anyway, but they become even more important in darker conditions when it’s harder to see your vehicle and other cars on the road.