Car crash risk ‘increases after the autumn clock change’
Data shows that accident risk goes up by 29 per cent in November evenings
Drivers have been warned to take extra care behind the wheel next week after new data revealed that crashes in the evening increase following the autumn clock change.
Analysis by telematics provider Insure the Box found that the number of accidents that happen during the evening commute goes up by 12 per cent in November compared with October. This correlates with the clocks going back an hour and evenings getting darker earlier.
The data comes from 18,000 insurance claims relating to accidents that took place between 5pm and 8pm in October and November 2012 to 2016.
Simon Rewell, road safety manager for Insure the Box, has called for a change to the driving test to include questions on night driving. He said: “We know from our own analysis that more accidents occur at night than during the day so it is disappointing that the new driving test coming in on 4th December does not make any reference to driving in darker conditions.
“This would have been a strong opportunity to significantly improve confidence and road safety amongst young drivers.”
Telematics boxes are becoming increasingly popular, especially with younger drivers, as they often result in insurance premium discounts.
The boxes use GPS data to track the driver’s location and speed, with those who drive carefully often rewarded with further discounts. Some boxes can also sense when an accident has happened and alert the emergency services.
British Summer Time ends at 2am on Sunday, October 29. Clocks go forward again at 1am on Sunday, March 25, 2018.
