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Road accidents surge as the clocks go back
As the winter months approach and the nights draw in, gps tracking can help you to take extra care on the roads.
Written by: Joseph Tanner, Marketing Executive
Many motorists are beginning to adjust to the shorter days and darker commutes after the clocks went back to adjust for daylight savings.
With the the clocks going back just last weekend, research from Zurich Insurance found that if you’re driving between 16:00 – 19:00 in November you’re more likely to have an accident than you would before the dark evenings took hold.
“Take additional caution as autumn driving presents different risks such as reduced daylight hours, wet or foggy weather and leaves and debris on the road causing potentially slippery conditions and often covering pot holes. We recommend that you take time to prepare your car for the colder and wetter days ahead and adjust your speed accordingly to minimise the odds of a collision on your journey.”
How can GPS tracking help?
Fundamentally, GPS tracking is one of the safest additions to a vehicle that you can have. If you're a business, monitoring your drivers will keep them accountable for driving safely by keeping an eye on their speeds, braking and turning habits, and even in-cab video. Additionally, you'll have the best support for your insurance claim if there ever is an incident with one of your vehicles.
Here's what you can do to stay safe
- Prepare for driving at night time. Check your bulbs and ensure all your lights are working so that you can see and be seen by other road users.
- Minimise glare. Clean your windscreen thoroughly inside and outside and make sure that any cracks and chips are fixed before the cold weather sets in.
- Watch out for leaves and debris on the road. High winds and falling leaves can cover pot holes and dips in the road and make the road more slippery.
- As well as impacting visibility, fog can also contribute to making the road wet and slippery so always adjust your speed to driving conditions.
- Give your vehicle regular thorough checks, including the tyres, brakes, wipers and liquids.
What does the data show?
Data shows that demand for replacement cars, vans and trucks increased by 10% in the two weeks immediately after the clocks went back in 2021, compared to the two weeks beforehand. Road accidents are more common in the winter months and this is likely because of shorter days with darker afternoons and evenings, which are peak commuting times, and poor weather conditions following the end of British Summer Time.
In fact, research by Zurich found that prior to the autumn clock change, a quarter of car accidents occurred between 16:00-19:00. This increases to almost a third of all crashes (30%) in November after the clocks have changed. This equates to a 10-15% increase in accident volumes occurring within that timeframe when compared to the rest of the day.
Claims for road accidents jumped by over a fifth (22 percent) in the week after the clocks went back in 2021, according to analysis of internal data by Tesco Bank Motor Insurance.
Dave Thompson, Claims Director at Tesco Bank, commented: “The clocks going back plunges evenings into darkness and as drivers adapt to the changed conditions, there is a rise in the number of road accident claims.
Many motorists are having to adjust to the shorter days and darker evenings after the clocks went back to adjust for daylight savings. Claims for road accidents jumped by over a fifth (22 percent) in the week after the clocks went back in 2021, according to analysis of internal data by Tesco Bank Motor Insurance.
“For anyone using the roads, it’s important to take that extra bit of care as the clocks go back and reduce the chances of a collision.
“Give other road users more space, leave more time for journeys, and make sure you are visible on the roads.
“Some pre-winter car maintenance is also a good thing to tick off too, before the temperature drops.”
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