Crash claims surge as daylight saving draws to an end

Van and Business Car drivers will face one of the most treacherous times of the year for road traffic accidents this week, according to new figures from MORE TH>N BUSINESS.

With Britain's clocks due to revert to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), the rapid decline in daylight is set to leave drivers quite literally ‘in the dark' and struggling to see the host of hazards that fill British roads.

MORE TH>N BUSINESS records show that vehicle accident claims surge by five per cent on average each year during the two weeks either side of the daylight saving changeover as motorists suddenly find themselves driving to and from work in the dark.

Head of MORE TH>N BUSINESS Mike Bowman said: ``This is always the worst month of the year for motorists and our claims officers are already reporting a rising volume of vehicle accident claims.''

As the number of daylight hours dwindle each week and fog and darkness sets in, Mr Bowman said drivers must change their driving habits.

“Twilight presents the most difficult driving conditions because your eyes are required to constantly change to adapt to the growing darkness,'' Mr Bowman said, ``so it really pays to take extra care, put your headlights on and drive to the conditions.

"Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination, keep your distance between you and the vehicle in front and switch your headlights on as darkness creeps in.''

This year daylight saving officially ends on Sunday, 26 October.

MORE TH>N BUSINESS is urging drivers to take extra care during these hazardous weeks, and reminds drivers that should the worst happen, your insurer can help you to get back on the road as quickly as possible, minimising the impact on your business.

To help, MORE TH>N BUSINESS offers drivers the following tips on safe motoring:

Top 10 tips for driving in darkness

1. Prepare your car for night driving. Clean headlights, taillights, signal lights and windows.

2. Angle your headlights properly. Misdirected headlights can blind other drivers and impair your ability to see the road.

3. Don't drink and drive. Just one drink can induce fatigue.

4. Avoid smoking when you drive as smoke's nicotine and carbon monoxide can greatly reduce night vision.

5. Lower your speed and increase your following distances. It is more difficult to judge another vehicle's speed and distance in the dark.

6. Don't overdrive your headlights. You should be able to stop inside the illuminated area. If you're not, you are creating a blind crash area in front of your vehicle.

7. When following another vehicle, keep your headlights on low beams so you don't blind the driver ahead of you.

8. If an oncoming vehicle doesn't dip beams from high to low, avoid glare by watching the edge of the road and using it as a steering guide.

9. If you're feeling tired, stop and have a rest.

10. If you have car trouble, pull off the road as far away from moving traffic as possible. Warn approaching traffic at once by turning on your hazard lights.