DIAmond Advanced Motorists - which administers advanced driving tests on behalf of the Driving Instructors Association (DIA) - are warning British motorists of a potential perfect storm of circumstances that could lead to road traffic accidents at the end of the weekend and the beginning of next week.
The first danger is the clocks going back on Sunday morning, taking us out of British Summer Time and leading to earlier dark evenings. Traffic accident statistics show an 11% increase in car accidents just after the clocks go back, every year, so while the extra hour in bed will be welcome for most people, drivers on the road in the early evening could be caught out by darkness descending earlier than expected. All drivers need to be alert to the earlier lighting up time and remember to switch on their headlights at dusk.
The problem could be exacerbated on Sunday by the increased traffic levels as many families return home after the half-term break. A combination of frustration at being stuck in a jam, in-car distractions and post-holiday fatigue could lead to loss of concentration for a split second, which is long enough to find yourself in a collision.
Monday morning - the first working day after the clocks go back - will also require drivers to be cautious, as it is statistically one of the most dangerous days of the year on the roads.
Steve Garrod, DIA group manager, said: "A major cause of the problems is that everyone on the road will have experienced a 25-hour Sunday. This, combined with driving in unfamiliar conditions, can lead to the kind of fatigue more often associated with jetlag."
"We recommend that all drivers on the road at this time of year be extra attentive and aware of the changing conditions."
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