On Sunday, we will switch back to winter time. Clocks will be turned back one hour, extending the night by one hour and giving us an extra hour of sleep. Unfortunately, it also means that it will get dark earlier in the evening, and that there will be more pedestrian accidents after the time switch.
Vias previously noticed that less daylight or reduced visibility in winter is associated with more serious pedestrian accidents. A UK-wide survey, on the other hand, found that keeping Daylight Saving Time could reduce pedestrian fatalities by about 13%.
Risky period
According to the traffic safety institute Vias, this is a risky period, and we should all be extra alert on the road. Trips that generally take place in daylight are now made in twilight or the dark, and drivers are confronted with reduced visibility, more darkness during rush hour, and fatigue from time changes. Pedestrians are not always clearly visible, and drivers, therefore, often brake far too late or not at all.
The result is visible in statistics: from October to November, pedestrian accidents during the evening rush hour increase by 34 percent. The number of serious injuries and fatalities among pedestrians even goes up by 61 percent. Vias recorded 116 deaths and serious injuries per 1,000 injury accidents in October, compared to 139 after the change in November (2015-2024). So not only are there more accidents, but they are also more serious.
Darkness-related
Studies from other countries also often confirm that winter, darkness, and twilight – when changing clocks – can indeed be linked to an increased number of (passenger) accidents. This has several practical implications for governments, such as providing better lighting and sufficient crossing time for pedestrians and maintaining more evening light to reduce risks.
Vias advises pedestrians to check several times before crossing and to use pedestrian crossings if available. The agency also recommends that pedestrians be highly visible by wearing fluorescent clothing or vests.
