Darker evenings and the effect on road safety

By Ella Carey

This Sunday, 29 October, will be the annual marker of people asking “Did you enjoy your extra hour of sleep last night?”, Or in other instances, “Aw delighted we got an extra hour in the pub last night”. Either way, the clocks going back will affect everyone in one way or another.

The yearly change occurs on the last weekend in October, and once the clock strikes 2 am on Sunday, an hour of daylight will be taken away.

In 2019 the European Parliament voted to scrap the changing of the clocks.

However, the proposition was paused due to Covid-19 and has remained on hold since.

Some benefits of the clocks going back include that extra hour in bed, more sunlight in the morning time, and cosy winter nights in fluffy pyjamas and copious amounts of tea; it sounds like a dream!

Unfortunately, with the good comes the bad, and there are negative impacts of the clocks changing.

One of the downsides to the clocks changing is the effect darker evenings have on road traffic accidents.

Road traffic fatalities in Ireland

This year alone, as of 24 October, 2023, 155 people have been killed on Irish roads.

The stark figure equals the total amount of deaths on Irish roads in 2022, and with two months still left to go in 2023, the number of fatalities may only increase.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) fatality statistics as of 29 August, 2023, show 46% of fatalities occurred between 8 pm and 8 am, and almost half (47%) occurred between weekend days, Friday and Sunday.

The monthly average for 2022 was 13 fatalities per month, while the monthly average for 2023 to the date of 29 August is 16 fatalities per month. Comparing the 155 road deaths to the same period last year, deaths on Irish roads have increased by over 30% this year.

RSA’s advice on driving in the dark 

As we lose daylight this weekend, driving in darker evenings will become the norm. From now until the Winter ends, the sun will set as soon as the working day is finished and won’t rise again until the working day starts.

The darker evenings will have a significant impact on road safety, so the RSA has the following advice when driving in the dark or at night time:

1. Ensure your lights, indicators, reflectors and number plate lighting are clean and in good working order so that you can see clearly and always be seen.
2.  A clean windscreen is essential when driving at night
3. You must drive at a speed that allows you to stop within the distance covered by your lights.
4.  Keep your headlights appropriately adjusted. If they are out of line, they are less effective and may dazzle
5. Be watchful of vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, as it may be harder to see them in the dark. 

Other recommendations include regular eye tests to determine how well you can see in low light and darkness.

The Vision Zero Campaign

The Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 is the first step in the journey of the Vision Zero campaign. The plan involves a strategy over several years across all aspects of road safety.

This outline includes new and improved infrastructure, higher-tech cars and better enforcement of road traffic laws to help reduce the dangers faced by road users.

It is hoped that the Vision Zero Campaign will achieve its goal of no road deaths or serious injuries by 2050.