Turning Back The Clocks

Remember! The clocks go back at 1am on Sunday 30th October

We know what you’re thinking – we’ve only just put them forward! But Winter-lovers can rejoice as we turn the hands back and enjoy an extra hour in bed. For others though, encouraging the evenings to get darker isn’t such an exciting thought.

Did you know? The longest day of the year (Summer Solstice) in June see’s 16 hours and 50 minutes of sunlight, while the shortest day (Winter Solstice) in December has only 7 hours and 40 minutes of light. It’s a huge difference, and sees many of us heading to work and leaving again in total darkness.

The reasons for putting the clocks forward for the Summer make a lot of sense – we use less energy in our homes with the lighter, warmer evenings, the roads are safer for all users and pedestrians due to good visibility in the sunshine, and crime is reduced as the country is in the dark for less time at night, when more crimes take place. However, these reasons all become a problem when the clocks turn back again.

On the road

Drivers need to be prepared for the darker mornings and evenings. You may not have noticed that you have a headlight out as you’ve not used them much, the same goes for brake lights, and roads which are usually fine and bright will be a lot darker with plenty of places for pedestrians and cyclists to be hidden.

Take it easy, particularly when a dark evening is accompanied by heavy rain, and leave yourself plenty of time to brake. New drivers who passed their test in the summer might also be nervous about driving regularly in the dark, so make sure that they feel safe and confident before getting behind the wheel.

In the office

It can be worth investing in daylight bulbs in the office to keep the lighting as natural as possible, and heading outside for a walk at lunchtime can make a huge difference to anyone who struggles without the sunshine.

On the school run

Children need to be aware that they can’t always be seen by drivers when it’s dark. Dress them in brightly coloured coats with a bright bag so that they stand out when walking along the side of the road.

They won’t be able to play out much in the evenings either, so invite their friends over for dinner instead so that they don’t miss out.

On the bike

Most cyclists are already wary of the dangers on the road when it’s dark. High-vis clothing should be worn and good, working lights should be positioned on the front and back of the bike. Now is a good time for bicycle maintenance, to have it ready for the colder months, when rain and mist can accompany the darkness and be dangerous both at night and in the morning.

At home

Keep curtains open in the day to keep your home as bright as possible. When the alarm goes off in the morning turn the lights on straight away to help you to wake up, or invest in a ‘sunrise’ simulator lamp if dark mornings are particularly difficult.