AA Urges Motorists to Be Safety-Aware as Clocks Change

As we enter into the darkest months of the year the AA is advising cyclists to make sure that they are properly lit, while calling on motorists to take extra precautions to help keep bike users stay safe during the winter months.

With the changing of the clocks meaning that most of us will now be undertaking our commutes to and from work in near darkness, motorists are being urged to reduce their speed and be on the lookout for vulnerable road users. The AA is also urging cyclists and motorists alike to take a few minutes to check that all lights on their vehicle are in working order to help improve visibility.

“It is not fully bright before 0800 these days and dark again by 5pm,” says Director of Consumer Affairs Conor Faughnan. “That means most commuting is done in darkness, and with wet and windy weather forecast that makes it particularly dangerous for cyclists and vulnerable road users,” says Faughnan. “Not only is visibility generally worse during the winter months, when the wind picks up cyclists or pedestrians can easily be blown off course so it’s important that motorists allow extra distance when overtaking or driving near these road users.”

One in ten AA Members are regular cyclists with commuting numbers increasing steadily. The AA is calling on all road users to be properly prepared for winter. For cyclists, that means checking that brakes and gears are in good working order but most importantly making sure that you are properly lit, front and rear. For motorists, this also means checking the condition of your brakes and lights but also taking some time to check the condition of your tyres and your windscreen wipers which could play a vital role in safe driving during the winter months.

“On a wet winter’s evening in city traffic a car’s glass will be covered with beads of rain and bits of debris, all of which can worsen your visibility. We would encourage motorists to ensure their windows are fully clear before they begin their journey, but even with this precaution the windows can very quickly fog up again leaving only the area your wipers can clear free for you to see through. This will greatly reduce, if not eliminate, your peripheral vision, so it’s important that you carry out a check and a double check for any cyclists that may be on the inside of your car before you make any turn,” says Faughnan.

“To be clear, drivers have the greater responsibility and rightly face stiffer penalties because when a car hits a cyclist or a pedestrian, it is not the motorist who walks away with serious injury or worse. However, we would encourage cyclists to check all their lights are in working order just to help make themselves a bit more visible. This is not an ‘us versus them’ issue but one which is actually a shared effort to keep our roads as safe as possible.”

The AA also advises cyclists and drivers to be particularly careful if we get further windy weather in the weeks ahead. Strong and blustery winds are a particular hazard and cyclists can be buffeted and forced to swerve which means drivers must be especially careful.

AA’s top tips for road users this winter:

• Be alert and never use mobile phones while cycling (obviously)
• For cyclists and pedestrians, consider luminous, reflective clothing such as a high vis vest and fluorescent armbands which are a very helpful addition to proper lights. While not a legal requirement they can greatly aid your visibility on the road.
• Make sure your lights work, front and especially rear, and remember to switch them on
• Check weather forecasts in advance of your journey