Car accidents increase as the clocks turn back – here’s how much the risk increases from Sunday…

When the clocks turn back in the fall, it means most of us will be leaving work in the dark and suffering from a vitamin D deficiency – but does this statistically increase our chances of being involved in a road accident?

It’s an age-old saying that fewer hours of sunlight causes an increase in accidents – and the AA has crunched the numbers to find out if this is actually the case.

And analysis of official accident data shows that this leads to more accidents.

In Great Britain, the clocks will go back one hour in the early hours of Sunday, October 27. This marks the end of British Summer Time and Daylight Savings Time, and a return to Greenwich Mean Time

The AA found that in the two weeks after the clocks were changed, there was an 11 percent increase in the number of road accidents.

This rises by a further six per cent during peak hours, leading to warnings for motorists to be more vigilant as the clock beats on Sunday.

The AA is reminding drivers that extra precautions should be taken due to the increase in collisions caused by this seasonal change.

The AA’s Accident Assist team saw calls for its service increase by 11 per cent in the fortnight after the October 2023 clock change, compared to the fortnight before.

Tesco Bank Motor Insurance also saw peak-hour road accident claims rise by 17 per cent after the clocks turned back last year.

While dark evenings, wet weather and slippery streets all contribute to the number of collisions in late October and early November, one of the most challenging conditions is the low sun and glare from the roads.

Tesco Bank Motor Insurance saw peak-hour road accident claims rise by a sixth after turning the clock back last year

Last month the AA found that almost three-quarters of motorists said the worst thing about driving in the autumn was being blinded by the sun.

More than half said other drivers not using their lights properly is a problem in the fall, while two-fifths said dark mornings and evenings are the worst aspect of driving in the fall.

According to the 2023 road casualty statistics, there were 3,680 collisions in which someone was injured or killed because the driver’s vision was affected by bad weather or blinding sun.

There were also 4,244 injury accidents in which the road surface was slippery due to weather conditions.

Tim Rankin, director of the motoring body’s Accident Assist division, said: ‘Our statistics clearly show that when the clock goes back we see an increase in the number of accidents.

‘Many of these problems could be avoided by making small changes in driving behaviour.

‘Glare from low sun can make a journey challenging, but taking control of your lighting is easy. Leaving the lever in ‘auto’ is not always the best solution.

“We urge drivers to light the road so they can see others and others can see you.”

He added: ‘Driving in autumn is probably the most challenging as weather conditions change from cold and wet to clear and sunny.

‘The best advice is to drive according to the conditions, make sure your car is in good condition and look out for other road users.’

Last month the AA found that almost three-quarters of motorists said the worst thing about driving in the autumn was glare from the sun

Tesco Bank also advises motorists to leave extra space between cars, keep your windscreen and windows clean, pay extra attention to pedestrians and cyclists and have your eyes tested.

Dave Thompson from Tesco Bank added: ‘The clocks going back plunges the evenings into darkness, and our data shows this change is leading to a rise in road accident claims.

‘It is important for anyone using the road to take extra care as the clock goes back to reduce the chance of a collision.

‘Give other road users more space, have more time for journeys and make sure you are visible on the road.

‘Now is also a good time for some pre-winter car maintenance before temperatures drop.’