NEEPS

Maria

Another worthwhile forwared email to pass on....

The clocks go back on 25 October

The clocks go back on 25 October with an inevitable increase of accidents with commuters heading home in the dark. This is particularly dangerous for pedestrians, especially children, and those not used to night driving.

October November and December are among the worst months for road accidents. Fog, rain and ice play their parts but all the indications are that it is the darker evenings that really cause the problems.

Lights
With British Summer time due to end early in the morning of 25th October, the majority are going to have to go home from work in the dark on Monday 26th. So one chore before then is to go out to the car and check all the lights work, checking that you aren't going to swell the numbers of one-eyed monsters that darker evenings always reveal.

This is something to be done well in advance, not the day before, as it is quite possible that you may not be able to replace the bulb yourself and may have to call for professional help. Many police forces will be running enforcement campaigns on vehicle lighting around the end of October.

Cyclists and Pedestrians
The increases in fuel prices seem to have made more people walk and cycle, and these will be in the traffic mix. While many have long learned the value of easily visible clothing some won't have done so and there will surely be some cyclists who won't show lights either. So drivers need to look out.

Adults responsible for children who will be out on the dark evenings need to make sure that they are dressed to be seen. The trend towards more traditional school uniforms can make children harder to see in the dark.

First time at night?
There will also be many people who are experiencing darkness on their journeys for the first time. Some may be new schoolchildren with mum, others new secondary children travelling home alone in the dark for the first time. There will also be new drivers, and those who have driven for many years but never on their current route in the dark. On top of these will be the people who have changed to walking or cycling in the last year. It is a time when we all need to take extra care.

Remember to take plenty of breaks on long car journeys.
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Better late than never!

IainC · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 10:30 pm Post subject:

I can't really complain seeing as I did the same as a kid, but I'm still kind of surprised with the rise in traffic these days that there seem to be so many people who cycle at night with all black clothing on and no lights... other than the reflection of the wee red reflector on the back, or if you catch the ones on the wheels/front of the bike, you'd not see them until it's almost too late... same goes with people walking back in the dark.

Whenever I've done it, I always get off the road completely, but some folk don't so it's always worth keeping your wits about you.

Got to say, it's one of the really good things about the car I have, the lights on it are excellent, even on dipped beam, really light up the road (way better than the older cars I've had in the past).

If you are walking though, there are some really good LED torches now, that give you are really good light and aren't too large. We got a couple from T****'s and despite them only being about the size of 3 C cell batteries, you'd almost think the light was coming from someone's dipped beam headlight (other than the fact that mine seems to have developed a fault where it randomly flickers and goes off).

Diana · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:52 am Post subject:

Anyone walking their dog on/near a country lane (or any road actually), PLEASE can you wear a hi-vis vest.

We do when walking ours, but have seen some really horrors - a guy wearing black trousers and dark blue jacket walking a black lab and CROSSING the A90 (over the central res too). He appeared out of nowhere and scared the life out of me.
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